Thiophene and thiazole substituted trifluoroethanone derivatives as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or stereoisomer thereof. The compounds of the present invention are inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases, including cancer. Further, the compounds of the present invention are useful for treating neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia and stroke among other diseases.

The present invention relates to thiophene and thiazole substituted trifluoroethanone derivatives which are inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC), particularly class II HDAC. The compounds of the present invention are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases, including cancer. Further, the compounds of the present invention are useful for treating neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia and stroke among other diseases.

In eukaryotic cells the orderly packaging of DNA in the nucleus plays an important role in the regulation of gene transcription. Nuclear DNA is ordered in a compact complex called chromatin. The core of the complex is an octamer of highly conserved basic proteins called histones. Two each of histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 associate and DNA winds around the basic amino acids of the histones interacting with the negatively charged phosphate groups of the DNA. One molecule of histone H1 is associated with each wound core which accommodates approximately 146 bp of DNA. The cores are, in turn, packaged into a compact regular structure with about 200 bp of DNA between each core.

The amino-terminal tails of the histones are subject to post-translational modification, in particular by acetylation of lysine. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone acetyl transferases (HATs) determine the pattern of histone acetylation, which together with other dynamic sequential post-translational modifications might represent a ‘code’ that can be recognised by non-histone proteins forming complexes involved in the regulation of gene expression. This and the ability of histone deacetylases (HDACs) to also modify non-histonic substrates and participate in multi-protein complexes contributes to the regulation of gene transcription, cell cycle progression and differentiation, genome stability and stress responses.

Eleven members of the HDAC family have been identified in humans, which share a conserved catalytic domain and are grouped into two classes: class I (1, 2, 3, 8), homologous to yeast Rpd3; class IIa (4, 5, 7, 9) and IIb (6, 10), homologous to yeast Hdal. HDAC11 shares homologies with both classes, but is at the same time distinct from all the other ten subtypes. Interest in these enzymes is growing because HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) are promising therapeutic agents against cancer and other diseases. The first generation of HDACi were discovered from cell-based functional assays and only later identified as HDAC class I/II inhibitors. Present HDAC inhibitors are pan-specific or poorly selective. Those that entered clinical trials all show similar adverse effects, mainly fatigue, anorexia, hematologic and GI-toxicity, that becomes dose-limiting in clinical trials. It is not at all clear whether the antitumor properties of HDAC inhibitors are due to their lack of specificity or are the consequence of hitting one or few “crucial” subtypes. This question is of considerable interest because it may open the way for the development of novel, more sensitive compounds with possibly enhanced efficacy and/or tolerability. More recent studies were therefore directed to better define the biological function of different class members and to devise subtype-selective enzymatic assays to assist in the development of improved cancer chemotherapies.

The class Ha HDACs contain a highly conserved C-terminal catalytic domain (˜420 amino acids) homologous to yHDA1 and an N-terminal domain with no similarity to other proteins. The activity of the class Ha HDACs is regulated at several levels, including tissue-specific gene expression, recruitment of distinct cofactors and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Whereas most class I HDACs are ubiquitously expressed, class Ha HDACs are expressed in a restricted number of cell types.

HDAC inhibitors cause the induction of differentiation, growth arrest and/or apoptosis in a broad spectrum of transformed cells in culture and tumors in animals, including both haematological cancers and solid tumors. These inhibitory effects are believed to be caused, in part, by accumulation of acetylated proteins, such as nucleosomal histones, which appear to play a major role in regulation of gene transcription. A proposed mechanism for the anti-tumor effects of HDAC inhibitors is that the accumulation of acetylated histones leads to activation (and repression) of the transcription of a select number of genes whose expression causes inhibition of tumor cell growth. Expression profiling of cells cultured with HDAC inhibitors supports this model, as studies demonstrate that the expression of a small number of genes (2-5% of the expressed genes) is altered (activated or repressed). The mechanism of gene repression or activation is not well understood and might result from either direct or indirect effects of histone acetylation or from the increase in acetylation of proteins other than histones (e.g. transcription factors).

There is still much to be understood about the family of HDACs, including the varying functions of different HDACs and the range of HDAC substrates. The development of selective HDAC inhibitors might be important in defining their biological role and potential as therapeutic agents. Clinically, the optimal dose, timing and duration of therapy, as well as the most appropriate agents to combine with HDAC inhibitors, are still to be defined.

The compounds of this invention are useful in the inhibition of histone deacetylase, particularly class H histone deacetylase.

WO 2005/086898 generically discloses structurally similar compounds as HDAC inhibitors. However, none of the exemplified compounds are described as selective Class II inhibitors or fall within the scope of the present invention.

In particular, the compounds of the present invention are selective HDAC 4, 5, 6 and 7 inhibitors and may additionally be active against other HDAC subtypes such as HDAC 1, 2, 3 and 8.

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I):

wherein:

each of the (X═O) linked group and trifluoroacetyl group is independently substituted on any carbon ring atom;

A is CH or N;

D is CH;

X is C or S═O;

R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆akoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino; or

R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl ring, a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, a phenyl ring, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, or a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring, or optionally bridged by one or two C₁₋₄alkyl groups; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from L-R⁴;

each L is independently a direct bond, (CH₂)_(d) or C═O;

R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆alkynyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; or

R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C₃₋₇cycloalkyl group, >C═O or >C═CH;

W is halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkoxy, S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; or a ring which is: C₃₋₅cycloalkyl; a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; a 6-13 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-15 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which alkyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁶;

each R⁴ is independently halogen; cyano; hydroxy; oxo; C₁₋₆alkyl; haloC₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkoxy; mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl; haloC₁₋₆alkoxy; C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; nitro; N(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CO(C₁₋₆alkyl); N(R^(a))CO₂(C₁₋₆alkyl); S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; or a ring which is: C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl; C₆₋₁₀aryl; C₆₋₁₀aryl C₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl; a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which alkyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from cyano, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆akoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms and C₆₋₁₀aryl, any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy and haloC₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁵ is C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which alkyl or alkenyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, N(R^(a))₂, —C₁₋₆alkylN(R^(a))₂, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl and C₆₋₁₀aryloxy rings, the rings being optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and haloC₁₋₆alkyl;

each R⁶ is independently halogen, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkoxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; nitro; N(R^(a))₂; CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CO(C₁₋₆alkyl); N(R^(a))CO₂(C₁₋₆alkyl); S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, O(C₁₋₁₀alkyl)N(R^(a))COR⁷; or a ring which is: C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl, a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, or a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and C₁₋₆alkoxy;

R⁷ is C₁₋₆alkoxy or C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or a 7-10 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, the ring being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, oxo, C₁₋₆alkyl and C₁₋₆alkoxy;

each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl or C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl;

a is zero, one, two, three, four, five or six;

b is zero, one, two, three or four;

c is zero, one, two, three or four;

each d is independently one, two, three or four;

r is zero, one or two;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In an embodiment:

A is CH or N;

D is CH;

when A is N, the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on D;

when A is CH, the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on either A or D;

X is C or S═O;

R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino; or

R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom; or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a phenyl ring, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, or a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by a C₁₋₆alkyl group; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁴;

R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆alkynyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; or

R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C₃₋₇cycloalkyl group;

W is C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkoxy, S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; or a ring which is: C₃₋₅cycloalkyl; a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; a 6-13 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring; a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁶;

each R⁴ is halogen; cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl; haloC₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkoxy; mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl; haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; nitro; N(R^(a))₂; CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CO(C₁₋₆alkyl); N(R^(a))CO₂(C₁₋₆alkyl); S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; or a ring which is: C₆₋₁₀aryl; C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl; a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms and C₆₋₁₀aryl optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and haloC₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁵ is C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino;

each R⁶ is halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkoxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; nitro; N(R^(a))₂; CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CO(C₁₋₆alkyl); N(R^(a))CO₂(C₁₋₆alkyl); S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, O(C₁₋₁₀alkyl)N(R^(a))COR⁷; or a ring which is: C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl, a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, or a 5 membered heternaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and C₁₋₆alkoxy;

R⁷ is C₁₋₆alkoxy or C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or a 7-10 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, the ring being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, oxo, C₁₋₆alkyl and C₁₋₆alkoxy;

each R^(a) is independently hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;

a is zero, one, two, three, four, five or six;

b is zero, one, two, three or four;

c is zero, one, two, three or four;

r is zero, one or two;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term ‘trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on any carbon ring atom’ is synonymous with the term ‘the trifluoroacetyl group is attached on the carbon atom’. When the trifluoroacetyl group is said to be substituted on A or D, each defined as CH, the H atom is replaced with the trifluoroacetyl group.

In an embodiment A is CH. In another embodiment A is N.

In an embodiment when A is CH, the trifluoroacetyl group is attached at D.

In one embodiment X is C. In another embodiment X is S═O.

Preferably, R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl or C₆₋₁₀aryl optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino. A further preferred R¹ group is C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl.

More particularly, R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₆₋₁₀aryl. A further particular R¹ group is C₃₋₇cycloalkyl.

More specifically, R¹ is hydrogen, methyl or phenyl. A further specific R¹ group is cyclopropyl.

In an embodiment, R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom; or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a phenyl, imidazole, pyrazole, thiazole, oxazole, triazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, cyclohexyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl or azepanyl; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by one or two C₁₋₄alkyl groups; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from L-R⁴;

In an embodiment L is a direct bond, CH₂, CH₂CH₂ or C═O.

In an embodiment, R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom; or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a phenyl, imidazole, pyrazole, thiazole, oxazole, triazole, pyridine or pyrimidine ring; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by a C₁₋₄alkyl group; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁴;

Favorably, R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a 5 or 6 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a phenyl or imidazole ring; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁴

In an embodiment, R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a dihydroisoindolyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, dihydroindolyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydroisoquinolinyl, diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, decahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrido[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydropyrazino[1,2-α]azepinyl, tetrahydrotriazolo[4,3-α]pyrazinyl or diazatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decanyl, any of which rings being optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from L-R⁴.

In another embodiment, R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl ring; optionally fused to a phenyl or imidazole ring; or optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a tetrahydrofuran spiro ring optionally fused to a phenyl ring; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more independently selected R⁴ groups.

Preferably, the ring formed by R¹ and —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W is unsubstituted or substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from L-R⁴. More particularly, the ring is unsubstituted, monosubstituted or disubstituted.

Preferably, R⁴ is halogen; cyano, nitro; S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; or a ring which is: C₆₋₁₀aryl; C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl; a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 9 or 10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms and C₆₋₁₀aryl optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and haloC₁₋₆alkyl.

More particularly, R⁴ is halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl or a ring which is: oxadiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoyl, phenoxyC₁₋₄alkyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzoisothiazolyl, phenylC₁₋₄alkyl, phenyl, pyridinyl or thiadiazolyl; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkoxy, haloC₁₋₄ alkyl, di(C₁₋₄ alkyl)amino, pyridinyl and phenyl optionally substituted by haloC₁₋₄alkyl.

More specifically, the optional substituents on a R⁴ ring are independently selected from methyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, dimethylamino, pyridinyl, phenyl and trifluoromethylphenyl.

Preferably, a R⁴ ring or alkyl group is unsubstituted or substituted by one, two or three independently selected groups. More particularly, a R⁴ ring or alkyl group is unsubstituted, monosubstituted or disubstituted.

Thus, particular R⁴ groups are pyridinyloxadiazolyl, phenyloxadiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoyl, phenoxymethyl, dimethoxytetrahydroisoquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzisothiazolyl, methylphenylethyl, dimethylaminophenyl, benzyl, pyridinyl, (trifluoromethyl)phenyloxadiazolyl, trifluoromethylthiadiazolyl, fluorine and phenyl. Further particular R⁴ groups are methyl, methylphenyl, acetyl, methoxycarbonyl, (chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, ethoxycarbonyl, methoxyphenyl, cyano, ethylcarbonyl, methylsulfonyl, dichloropyridinyl, benzotriazolyl, methylpyridinyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl, oxo, adamantyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, chlorophenyl, fluorobenzimidazolyl, methylimidazolyl, methylbenzimidazolyl, fluorophenyl, triazolyl, dichlorophenyl, butylamino, (chloro)(methoxy)phenyl, cyanophenyl, bromine, oxodihydrobenzimidazolyl, ethoxyphenyl, methylphenyl, butanone, methoxybenzyl, quinazolinyl, cyclohexyl, methylthiazolyl, cyclopropyl, trifluoromethyl, methyloxadiazolyl, dimethoxypyrimidinyl, (dimethoxypyrimidinyl)(phenyl)methyl, fluorophenyl, indolyl, dihydroindenyl, bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, dimethoxyphenyl, methoxypyridinyl and benzodioxolyl.

Thus, R¹ together with —CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W is particularly dihydroisoindolyl, (pyridinyloxadiazolyl)piperidinyl, (phenyloxadiazolyl)piperidinyl, benzoxazolylpiperazinyl, (benzothiazolyl)piperazinyl, dihydroindolyl, benzoylpiperidinyl, (3H-spiro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)piperidinyl, (phenoxymethyl)morpholinyl, (dimethoxytetrahydroisoquinolinyl)piperidinyl, isoquinolinylpiperazinyl, benzisothiazolylpiperidinyl, (methylphenyl)ethylpiperidinyl, (dimethylaminophenyl)pyrrolidinyl, benzylpiperidinyl, pyridinylpiperazinyl, [(trifluoromethylphenyl)oxadiazolyl]piperidinyl, (trifluoromethylthiadiazolyl)piperazinyl, difluoropiperidinyl or phenyldihydroimidazopyrazinyl. Further particular groups are methyl(methylphenyl)piperazinyl, acetylpiperazinyl, (methoxycarbonyl)piperidinyl, [(chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]piperazinyl, (tetrahydrofuranylcarbonyl)piperazinyl, (ethoxyoxoethyl)piperazinyl, (methoxyphenyl)piperazinyl, (cyano)(phenyl)piperidinyl, (ethylcarbonyl)(phenyl)piperidinyl, [(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]piperazinyl, (dichloropyridinyl)piperazinyl, benzotriazolylpiperidinyl, [(methylpyridinyl)methyl]piperazinyl, phenylpiperidinyl, tetrahydronaphthalenylpiperazinyl, oxopiperazinyl, adamnantylpiperazinyl, dimethylpiperazinyl, (morpholinylcarbonyl)piperidinyl, (pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)piperidinyl, (chlorobenzyl)piperidinyl, (fluorobenzimidazolylpiperidinyl, (methylimidazolylcarbonyl)piperidinyl, (methylbenzimidazolyl)piperidinyl, (fluorobenzyl)(oxo)piperazinyl, (triazolylcarbonyl)piperazinyl, (dichlorophenyl)piperazinyl, (butylaminocarbonyl)decahydroisoquinolinyl, (benzyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, (chloromethoxyphenyl)piperazinyl, (cyanophenyl)piperazinyl, bromopiperidinyl, (oxo)octahydroquinolinyl, (oxodihydrobenzimidazolyl)piperidinyl, (chlorophenyl)piperazinyl, (ethoxyphenyl)piperazinyl, (methoxyphenyl)piperazinyl, (methylphenyl)piperazinyl, (butanone)(phenyl)piperidinyl, (chlorophenyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, (methoxybenzyl)piperazinyl, quinazolinylpiperazinyl, (cyclohexyl)(oxo)piperazinyl, [(methylthiazolyl)methyl]piperazinyl, cyclopropylpiperazinyl, (methyl)(phenyl)piperazinyl, (trifluoromethyl)tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, (methyloxadiazolyl)piperazinyl, (pyridinylmethyl)piperazinyl, (methyl)(phenyl)piperazinyl, [(dimethoxypyrimidinyl)methyl]piperazinyl, [(dimethoxypyrimidinyl)phenyl)methyl]piperazinyl, (methyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, (fluorophenyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, (indolylcarbonyl)piperazinyl, dihydroindenylpiperazinyl, benzisothiazolylpiperazinyl, (chlorophenyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, [bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazinyl, isoquinolinylpiperazinyl, dihydrobenzodioxinylpiperazinyl, (dimethoxyphenyl)piperazinyl, (methoxybenzyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, (chlorobenzyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrido[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydropyrazino[1,2-α]azepinyl, (benzyl)(phenyl)piperazinyl, (methoxypyridinyl)piperazinyl, tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazinyl, benzodioxolylpiperazinyl, (methoxyphenyl)diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl and aza-azoniatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decanyl.

More specifically, R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W is 1,3-dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-yl, 4-(3-pyridin-3-yl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-1-yl, 4-benzoylpiperidin-1-yl, 4-(3H-spiro-2-benzofuran-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 2-phenoxymethyl)morpholin-4-yl, 4-(6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(IH)-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-(isoquinolin-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(1,2-benzisothiazol-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]piperidin-1-yl, 3-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl, 4-benzylpiperidin-1-yl, 4-pyridin-2-ylpiperazin-1-yl, 4-{3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl}piperidin-1-yl, 4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]piperazin-1-yl, 4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl or 3-phenyl-5,6-dihydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl. Further specific groups are 3-methyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-acetylpiperazin-1-yl, 4-(methoxycarbonyl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-[(4-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl, 4-tetrahydrofuran-2-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-cyanophenylpiperidin-1-yl, 4-ethylcarbonylphenylpiperidin-1-yl, 4-[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]piperazin-1-yl, 4-[3,5-dichloropyridin yl) piperazin-1-yl, 4-(1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-[(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl, 3-phenylpiperidin-1-yl, 4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 3-oxopiperazin-1-yl, 4-(1-adamantyl)piperazin-1-yl, 3,4-dimethylpiperazin-1-yl, 4-(morpholinylcarbonyl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-pyrrolidin-1-ylcarbonyl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-(3-chlorobenzyl)piperidin-1-yl, 4‡-fluoro-1H-benzimidazol-2-ylpiperidin-1-yl, 3-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylcarbonyl)piperidin-1-yl, 3-(6-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-(4-fluorobenzyl)-3-oxopiperazin-1-yl, 4-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl, (3R,4αS,8αS-3-tetbutylaminocarbonyl)decahydroisoquinolin-2-yl, (1R,4R)-5-benzyl-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, 4-(5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(4-cyanophenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-bromopiperidin-1-yl, (4αR,8αR)-4-(oxo)octahydroquinolin-1-yl, 4-(2-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl, 4-(2-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(2-ethoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(2-methylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(butan-1-one)-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, 4-(2-methoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(3-methoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(quinazolin-4-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(pyridin-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-cyclohexyl-3-oxopiperazin-1-yl, 4-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl, 4-cyclopropylpiperazin-1-yl, (2S)-4-methyl-2-phenylpiperazin-1-yl, 2-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2a]pyrazin-7-yl, 4-(4-methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-pyridin-3-ylmethyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-methyl-3-phenylpiperazin-1-yl, 4-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl, 4-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)(phenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl, (1S,4S)-5-methyl-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, 4-(1H-indol-6-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(1,2-benzisothiazol-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, 4-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazin-1-yl, 4-(isoquinolin 1-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-5-yl) piperazin-1-yl, 4-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(2-methoxybenzyl)-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-α]pyrazin-2-yl, octahydro-2H-pyrido[1,2-α]pyrazin-2-yl, decahydropyrazino[1,2-α]azepin-2-yl, 2-benzyl-4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl, 4-(4-methoxypyridin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazin-7-yl, 4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl, (1S,4S)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl and 10-aza-9-azoniatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decan-10-yl.

Preferably, R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl or C₆₋₁₀aryl; or R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, >C═O or >C═CH.

In an embodiment, R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl or C₆₋₁₀aryl; or R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C₃₋₇cycloalkyl group.

More particularly, R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl or phenyl; or R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cyclohexyl ring.

In an embodiment, R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, methyl or phenyl. A further R² and R³ group is trifluoromethyl.

In another embodiment, one of R² and R³ is hydrogen and the other is hydrogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl or phenyl. When one of R² and R³ is hydrogen the other may also be haloC₁₋₄alkyl.

In an embodiment, R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cyclohexyl ring, >C═O or >C═CH.

In another embodiment, R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cyclohexyl ring.

In an embodiment, R⁵ is C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₂₋₆alkenyl or a ring: C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, thiadiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, pyridinyl, benzothienyl, benzoisoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl or dihydrobenzodioxinyl; any of which alkyl or alkenyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, (C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl)amino, [(C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl)amino]C₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl and C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, the ring being optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₄alkyl and haloC₁₋₄alkyl.

Particular optional substituents on the alkyl or alkenyl group or the ring at R⁵ are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, cyano, methyl, methoxy, ethoxy, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, methoxycarbonyl, dimethylamino, acetylamino, (benzoylamino)methyl, phenyl, chlorophenyl and phenoxy.

In another embodiment, R⁵ is C₁alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆)amino or C₆₋₁₀aryl optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino.

More particularly, R⁵ is C₁₋₄ alkyl, amino, C₁₋₄ alkylamino, di(C₁₋₄ alkyl)amino or phenyl. Further particular R⁵ groups are (dimethylamino)naphthyl, (acetylamino)thiadiazolyl, fluorophenyl, ethoxybenzothiazolyl, phenyl, chlorophenyl, naphthyl, methylpyridinyl, (methoxycarbonyl)phenyl, benzothienyl, methylphenyl, phenoxyphenyl, diphenylmethyl, biphenyl, benzisoxazolyl, (chlorophenyl)thiazolyl, cyanophenyl, pyridinyl, dichlorophenyl, cyclohexyl, phenylvinyl, (trifluoromethyl)phenyl, (trifluoromethoxyphenyl, bromothienyl, (acetylamino)phenyl, [(benrzoylamino)methyl]thienyl, dimethoxyphenyl, dichlorothienyl, methoxyphenoxy and dihydrobenzodioxinyl.

More specifically, R⁵ is methyl, amino, dimethylamino or phenyl. Further specific R⁵ groups are 5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl, 5-(acetylamino)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl, 2-fluorophenyl, 6-ethoxy-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl, phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 1-napthyl, 5-methylpyridin-2-yl, 2-(methoxcarbonyl)phenyl, 1-benzothien-3-yl, 2-methylphenyl, 4-phenoxyphenyl, diphenylmethyl, 2-chlorophenyl, biphenyl-4-yl, 1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl, 4-(4-chlorophenyl) 1,3-thiazol-2-yl, 4-cyanophenyl, pyridin-4-yl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, cyclohexyl, (E)-2-phenylvinyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl, 5-bromo-2-thienyl, 2-napthyl, 4-acetylamino)phenyl, 3,4-dichlorophenyl, 5-[(benzoylamino)methyl]-2-thienyl, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,5-dichloro-3-thienyl, 4-methoxyphenoxy, 3-chlorophenyl and 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-yl.

Preferably, W is halogen C₁₋₄ alkyl, di(C₁₋₄ alkyl)amino, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, SO₂(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, or a ring which is: phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, cyclohexyl, thiazolyl, dihydroindenyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl, piperidinyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, imidazolyl, imidazopyridinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, furyl, benzothiazolyl, quinoxalinyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, thienyl, benzoxazolyl, fluorenyl, cyclopentyl, morpholinyl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, adamantyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, tetrahydrobenzo[7]annulenyl, benzotriazolyl, benzodioxolyl, piperazinyl, diazoniatricyclo[4.3.1.1^(3,8)]undecanyl, dihydrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepinyl, dihydrophthalazinyl, pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyridinyl or oxadiazolyl; any of which alkyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁶.

In an embodiment, W is C₁₋₄ alkyl, di(C₁₋₄ alkyl)amino, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, SO₂(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, or a ring which is: phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, cyclohexyl, thiazolyl, dihydroindenyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl, piperidinyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, imidazolyl, imidazopyridinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, furyl, benzothiazolyl, quinoxalinyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, thienyl, benzoxazolyl, fluorenyl, cyclopentyl, morpholinyl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, adamantyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, tetrahydrobenzo[7]annulenyl, benzotriazolyl or benzodioxolyl; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁶.

Preferably, a W ring is unsubstituted or substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from R⁶. In an embodiment, a W ring is unsubstituted, monosubstituted or disubstituted.

Preferably, R⁶ is halogen, cyano, C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, haloC₁₋₄alkyl, haloC₁₋₄alkoxy, C₁₋₄alkoxyC₁₋₄alkyl, SO₂(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, O(C₁₋₈ alkyl)NH(CO)R⁷; or a ring which is: phenyl, thiadiazolyl, imidazolyl, cyclohexyl, phenoxy, pyrrolyl, morpholinyl or thienyl; any one of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₄alkyl and C₁₋₄alkoxy. Further preferred R⁶ groups are C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl, oxo, hydroxy and an optionally substituted cyclopropyl or benzyl ring.

More particularly, the optional substituents on a R⁶ ring are independently selected from chlorine or methoxy.

Preferably, a R⁶ ring is unsubstituted or substituted by one, two or three independently selected groups. More particularly, a R⁶ ring is unsubstituted or monosubstituted.

Thus, particular R⁶ groups are chlorine, methoxy, methyl, phenyl, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, thiadiazolyl, imidazolyl, cyclohexyl, chlorophenyl, SO₂(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, O(hexylene)NH(CO)R⁷, phenoxy, methoxymethyl, methoxyphenyl, pyrrolyl, morpholinyl and thienyl. Further particular R⁶ groups are butoxycarbonyl, benzyl, oxo, cyclopropyl and hydroxy.

More specifically, R⁶ is chloro, methoxy, methyl, phenyl, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, methylsulfonyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl, imidazolyl, cyclohexyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 6-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]hexoxy, phenoxy, aminosulfonyl, methoxymethyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, pyrrol-1-yl, morpholinyl, 2-thienyl or 6-({5-[(3_(a)R, 4R, 6_(a)S)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d)imidazol-4-yl]pentanoyl}amino)hexoxy. Further specific R⁶ groups are tert-butoxycarbony, benzyl, oxo, cyclopropyl and hydroxy.

Preferably, R⁷ is C₁₋₆ alkoxy or C₁₋₆ alkyl optionally substituted by oxohexahydrothienoimidazolyl.

More particularly, R⁷ is tert-butoxy or 4-[(3aR,4R,6_(a)S)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol yl]butyl.

Thus, particular W groups are methyl, phenyl, dimethylamino, chlorophenyl, methoxyphenyl, methylphenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, biphenyl, cyclohexyl, fluorophenyl, trifluoromethylphenyl, trifluoromethoxyphenyl, methylsulfonylphenyl, thiadiazolylphenyl, phenylthiazolyl, dihydroindenyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl, phenylpiperidinyl, imidazolylphenyl, dichlorophenyl, quinolinyl, thiazolyl, (methyl)(phenyl)indolyl, methylimidazolyl, cyclohexylthiazolyl, methylimidazopyridinyl, (chlorophenyl)thiazolyl, oxazolyl, {[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]hexoxy}phenyl, phenylisoxazolyl, phenoxyphenyl, furyl, phenylcyclohexyl, benzothiazolyl, aminosulfonylphenyl, difluorophenyl, quinoxalinyl, (methoxymethyl)pyrazolyl, phenyltriazolyl, isoxazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, (methoxyphenyl)thienyl, pyrrolylphenyl, morpholinylphenyl, chlorobenzoxazolyl, 9H-fluorenyl, cyclopentyl, piperidinyl, methylpyrazolyl, morpholinyl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, methoxy, adamantyl, phenylpyrazolyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, tetrahydrobenzo[7]annulenyl, thienylthiazolyl, benzotriazolyl, dimethoxyphenyl, benzodioxolyl, benzylsulfonyl, dimethylaminosulfonyl and [({[(oxohexahydrothieno[3,4-d]imidazolyl)pentanoyl]amino}hexyl)oxy]phenyl. Further particular W groups are methylpiperazinyl, (butoxycarbonyl)indolyl, tritylamino, phenylmorpholinyl, phenyldiazoniatricyclo[4.3.1.1^(3,8)]undecanyl, benzylmorpholinyl, (oxo)dihydrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepinyl, dioxodihydrophthalazinyl, pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyridinyl, fluorine, phenyloxadiazolyl, trimethylpyrazolyl, methyloxadiazolyl, cyclopropyloxadiazolyl, triazolyl, thienyl, methylthiazolyl, methyltriazolyl, hydroxyphenyl, (dimethylamino)napthylsulfonyl, acetylaminothiadiazolylsulfonyl, fluorophenylsulfonyl, ethoxybenzothiazolylsulfonyl, phenylethylsulfonyl, chlorobenzylsulfonyl, naphthylethylsulfonyl, methylpyridinylsulfonyl, [(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methylsulfonyl, benzothienylsulfonyl, methylphenylsulfonyl, phenoxyphenylsulfonyl, diphenylbutylsulfonyl, diphenylpropylsulfonyl, chlorobenzylsulfonyl, diphenylethylsulfonyl, biphenylmethylsulfonyl, benzisoxazolylmethylsulfonyl, [(chlorophenyl)thiazolyl]methylsulfonyl, cyanobenzylsulfonyl, pyridinylmethylsulfonyl, dichlorobenzylsulfonyl, cyclohexylethylsulfonyl, phenylvinylsulfonyl, (trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl, (trifluoromethoxy)phenylsulfonyl, bromothienylsulfonyl, naphthylsulfonyl, phenylpropylsulfonyl, (acetylamino)phenylsulfonyl, dichlorophenylsulfonyl, [(benzoyl(amino)methyl]thienylsulfonyl, dimethoxyphenylsulfonyl, biphenylsulfonyl, dichlorothienylsulfonyl, (methoxyphenoxy)propylsulfonyl and dihydrobenzodioxinylsulfonyl.

More specific W groups are methyl, phenyl, dimethylamino, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 1-naphthyl, pyridin-3-yl, biphenyl-3-yl, cyclohexyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4 trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl, 4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl, biphenyl-4-yl, 4-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl)phenyl, 4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl, 2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl, 2-naphthyl, 3,4-dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-yl, 1-phenylpiperidin-4-yl, 4-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, quinolin-6-yl, quinolin 5-yl, quinolin-7-yl, 1,3-thiazol-2-yl, 2-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl, 1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl, 4-cyclohexyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl, 2-methylimidazo[1,2-α]pyridin-3-yl, 4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl, 1,3-oxazol-2-yl, 4-{6-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]hexoxy}phenyl, 5-phenylisoxazol-3-yl, 4-phenoxyphenyl, 3-furyl, 4 phenylcyclohexyl, 1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl, 4-aminosulfonyl)phenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, biphenyl-2-yl, quinoxalin-6-yl, 5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl, 5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, isoxazolyl, 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-5-yl, 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thienyl, 3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl, 3-phenylisoxazol-5-yl, 4-morpholinylphenyl, 5-chloro-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl, 9H-fluoren-2-yl, cyclopentyl, piperidin-1-yl, 1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl, morpholin-4-yl, cyclopropyl, tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, methoxy, 1-adamantyl, 1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol yl, 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-yl, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-5-yl, 2-(2-thienyl)-1,3-thiazolyl, 1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 2,6-dimethoxyphenyl, 1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl, benzylsulfonyl, dimethylaminosulfonyl and 4-{[6-({5-[(3αR,4R,6aS)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d)imidazol-4-yl]pentanoyl}amino)hexyl]oxy}phenyl. Further specific W groups include 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl, tetrahydrofuran-3-yl, 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1H-indol-1-yl, tritylamino, 4-phenylmorpholin-2-yl, 1-phenyl-3,6-diazoniatricyclo[4.3.1.1^(3,8)]undecan-9-yl, 4-benzylmorpholin-2-yl, pyridin 4-yl, 11-oxo-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-10-yl, 1,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrophthalazin-2(1H)-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyrazolo[1,5]pyridin-3-yl, quinolin-3-yl, fluorine, pyrazolo[1,5α]pyridine-7-yl, 4-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl, 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl, 1,3,5-trimethyl-1H-pyrazol yl, 4-methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, 5-phenylpyrazol-3-yl, 2-phenyl-1,3-thiazolyl, 4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl, 5-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl, 1,3-thiazol-5-yl, 5-phenylisoxazol-3-yl, 2-furyl, 1,3-thiazol-4-yl, 2H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, 2-thienyl, 2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl, 5-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, 2-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, [5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl]sulfonyl, [5-(acetylamino)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]sulfonyl, (2-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl, (6-ethoxy-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)sulfonyl, (2-phenylethyl)sulfonyl, (4 chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl, [2-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]sulfonyl, (5-methylpyridin-2-yl)sulfonyl, {[2-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]methyl}sulfonyl, 1-benzothien-3-yl-sulfonyl, (2-methylphenyl|)sulfonyl, (4-phenoxyphenyl)sulfonyl, (4,4-diphenylbutyl)sulfonyl, (3,3-diphenylpropyl)sulfonyl, (2-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl, (2,2-diphenylethyl)sulfonyl, (biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)sulfonyl, (1,2-benzisoxazol-3-ylmethyl)sulfonyl, {[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]methyl}sulfonyl, (4-cyanobenzyl)sulfonyl, (pyridin 4-ylmethyl)sulfonyl, (2,4-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl, (2-cyclohexylethyl)sulfonyl, [(E)-2-phenylvinyl]sulfonyl, (3,4-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl, [2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]sulfonyl, [4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl, (5-bromo-2-thienyl)sulfonyl, 2-naphthylsulfonyl, (3-phenylpropyl)sulfonyl, [4-(acetylamino)phenyl]sulfonyl, (3,4-dichlorophenyl)sulfonyl, {5-(benzoylamino)methyl]-2-thienyl}sulfonyl, (2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)sulfonyl, biphenyl-4ylsulfonyl, (2,5-dichloro-3-thienyl)sulfonyl, [3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]sulfonyl, 1-naphthylsulfonyl, (3-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl and 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-6-ylsulfonyl.

In an embodiment, each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl.

Particular R^(a) groups are hydrogen, methyl, methylcarbonyl and benzoyl.

In an embodiment, each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl. More particularly, R^(a) is hydrogen.

Preferably, a is zero, one, two or three.

Preferably, b is zero, one or two. More particularly, b is zero or one. In one embodiment b is zero.

Preferably, c is zero, one or two. More particularly, c is zero or one. In one embodiment c is zero

Preferably, r is zero or two. More particularly, r is two.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula 1A:

wherein:

the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on any carbon ring atom; and

a, b, A, D, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In an embodiment of compounds of formula IA:

A is CH or N;

D is CH;

when A is N, the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on D;

when A is CH, the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on A or D.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula IB:

wherein a, b, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula IC:

wherein a, b, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula ID:

wherein a, b, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula ID:

wherein a, b, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula IF:

wherein:

the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on any carbon ring atom;

R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₄alkyl or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; and

a, A, D, X, R², R³ and W are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In an embodiment of compound of formula IF:

A is CH or N;

D is CH;

when A is N, the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on D;

when A is CH, the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on A or D; and

R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl or C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₄alkyl.

Preferably, R⁸ is hydrogen, methyl or benzyl. A further preferred R⁸ group is cyclopropyl.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula IG:

wherein:

each of the (X═O) linked group and trifluoroacetyl group is independently substituted on any carbon ring atom;

e is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

Het is a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl ring, a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, a phenyl ring, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, or a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by one or two C₁₋₄alkyl groups; and

A, D, L, X and R⁴ are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or tautomer thereof.

Preferably, e is 0, 1 or 2.

Preferably, Het is a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom; or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a phenyl, imidazole, pyrazole, thiazole, oxazole, triazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, cyclohexyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl or azepanyl; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by one or two C₁₋₄alkyl groups.

More particularly, Het is dihydroisoindolyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, dihydroindolyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydroisoquinolinyl, diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, decahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrido[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydropyrazino[1,2-α]azepinyl, tetrahydrotriazolo[4,3-α]pyrazinyl or diazatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decanyl.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides compounds of formula IH:

wherein,

n is zero, one or two;

m is zero, one or two;

when n is zero, Y is CH₂;

when n is one or two, Y is CH₂, O or NH;

when Y is CH₂, the bond formed by Y and an adjacent carbon ring atom is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or Y is optionally substituted by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing one heteroatom selected from N, O and S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring;

when Y is NH, the bond formed by Y and an adjacent carbon ring atom is optionally fused to an imidazole ring; and

A, D, X and R⁴ are as defined above;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

For the avoidance of doubt, R⁴ can be substituted at any substitutable position.

The preferred identities with reference to formula IA, IB, IC, ID, EE, IF, IG and IH are as defined previously mutatis mutandis.

Preferably, n is one or two.

Preferably, when Y is CH₂, the bond formed by Y and an adjacent carbon ring atom is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or Y is optionally substituted by a tetrahydrofuran spiro ring fused to a phenyl ring.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that when Y is CH₂ and the bond formed by Y and an adjacent carbon ring atom is fused to a phenyl ring then Y is C. Likewise, Y is C when it is substituted by a spiro ring and Y is N when it is fused to an imidazole ring.

The present invention also includes within its scope N-oxides of the compounds of formula I above. In general, such N-oxides may be formed on any available nitrogen atom. The N-oxides may be formed by conventional means, such as reacting the compound of formula I with oxone in the presence of wet alumina.

The present invention includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds of formula I above. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of the compounds of formula I which are readily convertible in vivo into the required compound of formula I. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrug derivatives are described, for example, in “Design of Prodrugs”, ed. H. Bundgaard, Elsevier, 1985.

A prodrug may be a pharmacologically inactive derivative of a biologically active substance (the “parent drug” or “parent molecule”) that requires transformation within the body in order to release the active drug, and that has improved delivery properties over the parent drug molecule. The transformation in vivo may be, for example, as the result of some metabolic process, such as chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of a carboxylic, phosphoric or sulphate ester, or reduction or oxidation of a susceptible functionality.

The present invention includes within its scope solvates of the compounds of formula I and salts thereof, for example, hydrates.

The compounds of the present invention may have asymmetric centers, chiral axes, and chiral planes (as described in: E. L. Eliel and S. H. Wilen, Stereochemistry of Carbon Compounds, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1994, pages 1119-1190), and occur as racemates, racemic mixtures, and as individual diastereomers, with all possible isomers and mixtures thereof, including optical isomers, all such stereoisomers being included in the present invention. In addition, the compounds disclosed herein may exist as tautomers and both tautomeric forms are intended to be encompassed by the scope of the invention, even though only one tautomeric structure is depicted.

The compounds may exist in different isomeric forms, all of which are encompassed by the present invention.

When any variable (e.g. R² and R³, etc.) occurs more than one time in any constituent, its definition on each occurrence is independent at every other occurrence. Also, combinations of substituents and variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds. Lines drawn into the ring systems from substituents represent that the indicated bond may be attached to any of the substitutable ring atoms.

It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of the instant invention can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be readily synthesized by techniques known in the art, as well as those methods set forth below, from readily available starting materials. If a substituent is itself substituted with more than one group, it is understood that these multiple groups may be on the same carbon or on different carbons, so long as a stable structure results. The phrase “optionally substituted” should be taken to be equivalent to the phrase “unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents” and in such cases the preferred embodiment will have from zero to three substituents. More particularly, there are zero to two substituents. A substituent on a saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocycle can be attached at any substitutable position.

As used herein, “alkyl” is intended to include both branched and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having the specified number of carbon atoms. For example, “C₁₋₆alkyl” is defined to include groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbons in a linear or branched arrangement. For example, “C₁₋₆alkyl” specifically includes methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, i-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and so on. Preferred alkyl groups are methyl and ethyl. The term “cycloalkyl” means a monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having the specified number of carbon atoms. For example, “C₃₋₇cycloalkyl” includes cyclopropyl, methyl-cyclopropyl, 2,2-diethyl-cyclobutyl, 2 ethyl-cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and so on. In an embodiment of the invention the term “cycloalkyl” includes the groups described immediately above and further includes monocyclic unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups. For example, “cycloalkyl” as defined in this embodiment includes cyclopropyl, methyl-cyclopropyl, 2,2-dimethyl-cyclobutyl, 2-ethyl-cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclobutenyl, 7,7-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl and so on. Preferred cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. Further preferred cycloalkyl groups are bridged rings such as adamantyl.

As used herein, the term “C₂₋₄alkenyl” refers to a non-aromatic hydrocarbon radical, straight or branched, containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one carbon to carbon double bond. Preferably one carbon to carbon double bond is present, and up to four non-aromatic carbon-carbon double bonds may be present. Alkenyl groups include ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl and 2-methylbutenyl. Preferred alkenyl groups include ethenyl and propenyl.

As used herein, the term “C₂₋₆alkynyl” refers to a hydrocarbon radical straight or branched, containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one carbon to carbon triple bond. Up to three carbon-carbon triple bonds may be present. Alkynyl groups include ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, 3-methylbutynyl and so on. Preferred alkynyl groups include ethynyl and propynyl

“Alkoxy” represents an alkyl group of indicated number of carbon atoms attached through an oxygen bridge. “Alkoxy” therefore encompasses the definitions of alkyl above. Examples of suitable alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, i-propoxy, n-butoxy, s-butoxy and t-butoxy. The preferred alkoxy groups are methoxy and ethoxy.

As used herein, the term “mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl” represents a SH group attached through an alkyl group of indicated number. Examples of suitable mercaptoalkyl groups include CH₂SH, CH₂CH₂SH and CH₂CH₂CH₂SH.

The terms “haloC₁₋₆alkyl” and “haloC₁₋₆alkoxy” mean a C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkoxy group in which one or more (in particular, 1 to 3) hydrogen atoms have been replaced by halogen atoms, especially fluorine or chlorine atoms. Preferred are fluoroC₁₋₆alkyl and fluoroC₁₋₆alkoxy groups, in particular fluoroC₁₋₃alkyl and fluoroC₁₋₃alkoxy groups, for example, CF₃, CHF₂, CH₂F, CH₂CH₂F, CH₂CHF₂, CH₂CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, OCH₂F, OCH₂CH₂F, OCH₂CHF₂ or OCH₂CF₃, and most especially CF₃, OCF₃ and OCHF₂.

As used herein, the term “C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl” or “C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl” denotes a C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkoxy radical, respectively, attached via a carbonyl (C═O) radical. Suitable examples of C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl groups include methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, propylcarbonyl, isopropylcarbonyl and tert-butylcarbonyl. Examples of C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl include methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl and tert-butoxycarbonyl. The term ‘C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl’ can be construed analogously, and an example of this group is benzoyl.

As used herein, “C₆₋₁₀aryl” is intended to mean any stable monocyclic or bicyclic carbon ring of 6 to 10 atoms, wherein at least one ring is aromatic. Examples of such aryl elements include phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl and tetrahydrobenzo[7]annulene. The preferred aryl group is phenyl or naphthyl, especially phenyl.

The terms ‘C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl’ and ‘C₆₋₁₀aryloxy’ denote a C₆₋₁₀aryl radical linked via an alkyl and oxygen bridge, respectively. The term ‘C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl’ can be construed analogously.

Examples of particular heterocycles of this invention are benzimidazolyl, benzofurandionyl, benzofuranyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyrazolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoxazolonyl, benzothiazolyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzoxadiazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, benzoisothiazolyl, chromenyl, chromanyl, isochromanyl, carbazolyl, carbolinyl, cinnolinyl, epoxidyl, furyl, furazanyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, indolizinyl, indolinyl, isoindolinyl, indazolyl, isobenzofuranyl, isoindolyl, isoquinolyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, naphthpyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, isoxazolinyl, oxetanyl, purinyl, pyranyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyridopyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinolizinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazolopyridyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, triazolyl, azetidinyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, hexahydroazepinyl, piperazinyl, piperidyl, pyridin-2-onyl, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrrolinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, dihydrobenzoimidazolyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, dihydrobenrzoxazolyl, dihydrofuranyl, dihydroimidazolyl, dihydroindolyl, dihydroisooxazolyl, dihydroisothiazolyl, dihydrooxadiazolyl, dihydrooxazolyl, dihydropyrazinyl, dihydropyrazolyl, dihydropyridinyl, dihydropyrimidinyl, dihydropyrrolyl, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydroisoquinolinyl, dihydrotetrazolyl, dihydrothiadiazolyl, dihydrothiazolyl, dihydrothienyl, dihydrotriazolyl, dihydroazetidinyl, dihydroisochromenyl, dihydroimidazolonyl, dihydrotriazolonyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, dihydrothiazolopyrimidinyl, dihydroimidazopyrazinyl, methylenedioxybenzoyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiazolidinonyl, imidazolonyl, isoindolinonyl, octahydroquinolizinyl, octahydroisoindolyl, imidazopyridinyl, azabicycloheptanyl, chromenonyl, triazolopyrimidinyl, dihydrobenzoxazinyl, thiazolotriazolyl, azoniabicycloheptanyl, azoniabicyclooctanyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinazolinyl, pteridinyl and N-oxides thereof. Further examples include tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydroisoquinolinyl, diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, decahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, octahydropyrido[1,2-α]pyrazinyl, decahydropyrazino[1,2-α]azepinyl, tetrahydrotriazolo[4,3-α]pyrazinyl, diazatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decanyl, adamantyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, tetrahydrobenzo[7]annulenyl, diazoniatricyclo[4.3.1.1^(3,8)]undecanyl, dihydrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepinyl, dihydrophthalazinyl and pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyridinyl. Attachment of a heterocyclyl substituent can occur via a carbon atom or via a heteroatom.

Preferred 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated hetereocycles are pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl and tetrahydrofuran.

Preferred 5 membered heteroaromatic rings are thienyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, triazolyl, furyl and pyrrolyl.

A preferred 6 membered heteraromatic ring is pyridinyl. A further preferred ring is pyrimidinyl.

Preferred 6-13 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon rings are cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl, dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, adamantly and tetrahydrobenzo[7]annulenyl.

Preferred 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic rings are tetrahydroquinolinyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, imidazopyridinyl, benzothiazolyl, quinoxalinyl, benzothiadiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, dihydrobenzodioxinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzodioxolyl, dihydroisoindolyl, dihydroindolyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzoisothiazolyl and dihydroimidazopyrazinyl.

As used herein, the term “halogen” refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, of which fluorine and chlorine are preferred.

Particular compounds within the scope of the present invention are:

-   N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Methyl-N-(quinolin-7-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Ethyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2-Phenylethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-oxamide; -   N-Benzyl-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2 Dimethylamino)ethyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1S)-1-Phenylethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1R)-1-Phenylethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2-Thiophenecarboxamide, N-(phenylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl); -   N-(4-Chlorobenzyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-4-Methylbenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1-Naphthylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Phenyl-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Biphenyl-3-ylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2 carboxamide; -   N-(Cyclohexylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Methyl-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   1-[5-(1,3-Dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-ylcarbonyl)-2-thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   N-(2-Methoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(3-Methoxybenzyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2-Chlorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(3-Chlorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Fluorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Trifluoromethylbenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Trifluoromethoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[4-Methylsulfonyl)benzyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[4-(1,2,3-Thiadiazol-4-yl)benzyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)     thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,2-Diphenylethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Diphenylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N,N-Dibenzyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(4-Phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1R)-2,3-Dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(2-Naphthyl)ethyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(3,4-Dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)ethyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1-Phenylpiperidin yl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[4-(1H-Imidazol-4-yl)benzyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-2,4-Dichlorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(4-Phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)ethyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Methyl-N-(quinolin-6-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Quinolin-5-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Methyl-N-(1,3-thiazol-2-ylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(2-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Methyl-N-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(3-pyridin-3-yl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(5-{[4-(1,3-Benzoxazol-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-(5-{[4-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   N-(4-Cyclohexyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2-Methylimidazo[1,2a]pyridin-3-yl)methyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[4-(2-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2-Cyclohexylethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1,3-Oxazol-2-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(1-Naphthyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   Tert-butyl     (6-{4-[({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]phenoxy}hexyl)carbamate; -   N-[(5-Phenylisoxazol-3-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Phenoxyphenyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(3-Furylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Phenylcyclohexyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-ylmethyl)-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[4-Aminosulfonyl)benzyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,6-Difluorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Biphenyl-2-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   1-[5-(2,3-Dihydro-1H-indol-1-ylcarbonyl)-2-thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-{5-[(4-Benzoylpiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-[5-(1′H,3H-spiro[2-benzofuran-1,4′-piperidin]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-2-thienyl]ethanone; -   N-Methyl-N-(quinoxalin-6-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[5-(Methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]methyl}-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(5-Phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Isoxazol-4-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,1,3-Benzothiadiazol-5-ylmethyl)-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene     -2-carboxamide; -   N-Pyridin-3-yl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-2-thienyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2-Naphthyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[3-(1H-Pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro 1-(5-{[2-(phenoxymethyl)morpholin     yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(5-{[4-(6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   N-(4-Phenoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-{5-[(4-isoquinolin-3-ylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone; -   N-Methyl-N-[(3-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Morpholin     4-ylphenyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(5-Chloro-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-9H-Fluoren-2-yl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2 carboxamide; -   1-(5-{[4-(1,2-Benzisothiazol-3-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   N-Cyclopentyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-[5-({4-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]piperidin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2-thienyl]ethanone; -   N-[(1-Piperidin-1-ylcyclohexyl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1-Morpholin-4-ylcyclohexyl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   1-[5-({3-[4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2-thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   N-[(1R)-1-(1-Naphthyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Cyclopropylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1R)-1-Cyclohexylethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(Tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-3-Morpholin-4-ylpropyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2-Methoxyethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1-Adamantylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   1-{5-[(4-Benzylpiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-{5-[(4-pyridin-2-ylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone; -   N-Methyl-N-[(1-phenyl-11H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-{5-[(4-{3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl}piperidin-1-yl)     carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-[5-({4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]piperazin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2-thienyl]ethanone; -   N-[1-(1-Naphthyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,3-Dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(6,7,8,9-Tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-5-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[2-(2-Thienyl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]methyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   1-{5-[(4,4-Difluoropiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   N-[2-(1H-1,2,3-Benzotriazol-1-yl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-(4-Phenoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,4-Dimethoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,6-Dimethoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1R)-1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-{5-[(3-phenyl-5,6-dihydroimidazo[1,2a]pyrazin-7(8H)-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone; -   N-Benzylsulfonyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(Dimethylamino)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-{[6-({5-[(3αR,4R,6aS)-2-Oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl]pentanoyl}amino)hexyl]oxy}benzyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(4-Methoxybenzyl-4-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Benzyl-N-methyl-4-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Cyclohexylmethyl)-4-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-Benzyl-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-sulfonamide; -   N-(Cyclohexylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-sulfonamide; -   N-Benzyl-N-methyl-2-(trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide; -   N-(Cyclohexylmethyl)-2-(trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide;     and the pharmaceutically acceptable free bases, salts and     stereoisomers thereof.

Particular salts within the scope of the present invention are:

-   N,N-Dimethyl-2-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethanaminium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-[2-({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-Phenyl-4-({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)piperidinium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-{4-[({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]phenyl}-1H-imidazol-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-7,8-dihydroquinolinium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   6,7-Dimethoxy-2-(1-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidinyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-Isoquinolin-3-yl-4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-[4-({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)phenyl]morpholin     ium trifluoroacetate; -   1-{1-[({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]cyclohexyl}     piperidinium trifluoroacetate; -   1-Pyridin-2-yl-4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-(2-Thienyl-4-[({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-Phenyl-7-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-A]pyrazin     4-ium trifluoroacetate; -   N-Methyl(phenyl)-N-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]methyl}methanaminium     trifluoroacetate; -   (1R)-1-Phenyl-N-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]methyl}ethanaminium     trifluoroacetate; and -   Cyclohexyl-N-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]methyl}methanaminium     trifluoroacetate.

Further particular compounds within the scope of the present invention are:

-   2-phenyl-5-[1-({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   N-{[4-(acetylamino)phenyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-methyl-N-(quinoxalin-6-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxamide; -   2-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-{5-[(4-acetylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   methyl 1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidine     4-carboxylate; -   1-[(4-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(tetrahydrofuran-2-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-phenyl-1-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidine-4-carbonitrile; -   1-(4-phenyl-1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidinyl)propan-1-one; -   1-methyl-4-[2-(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)-2-phenylethyl]piperazinediium     bis(trifluoroacetate); -   1-[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(3,5-dichloropyridinium-4-yl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     bis(trifluoroacetate); -   1-(5-{[4-(1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-ylpiperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-[(3-methylpyridinium-2-yl)methyl]-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     bis(trifluoroacetate); -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-{5-[(3-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone; -   1-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-2-one; -   1-(1-adamantyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1,2-dimethyl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(morpholin-4-ylcarbonyl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4<pyrrolidin-1-ylcarbonyl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(3-chlorobenzyl)-4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-fluoro-2-(1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin     4-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate; -   1-methyl-2-[(1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl)carbonyl]-1H-imdazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   6-methyl-2-(1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-2-one; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(3,4-chlorophenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   (3R,4aS,8aS)-N-(tert-butyl)-2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}decahydroisoquioline-3-carboxamide; -   (1R,4R)-2-benzyl-5-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-yl)benzonitrile; -   1-{5-[(4-bromopiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   (4αR,8αR)-1-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}octahydroquinolin-4(1H)-one; -   1-(1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-4-yl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one; -   1-(2-chlorophenyl)-4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(2-ethoxyphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(2-methylphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(4-phenyl-1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin     4-yl)butan-1-one; -   N-(tetrahydrofuran-3-ylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N,N-dimethyl-2-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)propan-1-aminium     trifluoroacetate; -   tert-butyl     3-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1H-indole-1-carboxylate; -   N-[3-oxo-3-(tritylamino)propyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[2-oxo-2-(tritylamino)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[5-oxo-5-(tritylamino)pentyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   4-phenyl-2-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]morpholin-4-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-phenyl-9-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)-3,6-diazoniatricyclo[4.3.1.1^(3,8)]undecane     bis(trifluoroacetate); -   4-benzyl-2-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]morpholin-4-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   11-oxo-10-[2-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-5-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   N-[2-(1,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrophthalazin-2(1H)-yl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   2-[1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyridin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]quinolinium     trifluoroacetate; -   N-(2-fluoroprop-2-en-1-yl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   7-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyridin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(5-{[(1S,4S)-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-(5-{[(1S,4S)-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(3-methoxybenzyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-yl)quinazolin-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-yl)pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-cyclohexyl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-2-one; -   1-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)methyl]-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-cyclopropyl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   (3S)-1-methyl-3-phenyl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   7-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(4-methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)methyl]-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)(phenyl)methyl]-4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   (1S,4S)-2-methyl-5-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[(1S,4S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-1H-indol-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone; -   1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(1,2-benzisothiazol-3-yl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   (1S,4S)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   1-[5-({4-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2-thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-(4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-yl)isoquinolinium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(5-{[4-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-5-yl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone; -   1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   (1S,4S-2-(2-methoxybenzyl)-5-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   (1S,4S)-2-(4-methoxybenzyl)-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   (1S,4S-2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}octahydropyrrolo[1,2-α]-pyrazin-5-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}octahydro-2H-pyrido[1,2-α]pyrazin-5-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}decahydropyrazino[1,2-α]azepin-5-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-benzyl-1-phenyl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-methoxy-2-(4-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-yl)pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   7-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]pyrazin-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   (1S,4S)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)     -2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane     trifluoroacetate; -   10-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-10-aza-9-azoniatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decane     trifluoroacetate; -   4-methyl-2-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1H-imidazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-4-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-[(cyclopropyl{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1,3,5-trimethyl-1H-pyrazol-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-2-(2-thienyl)-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-methyl-3-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]imidazo[1,2-α]pyridin-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-[1-(methyl{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   N-methyl-N-[(4-methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-yl)methyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   3-[1-(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]isoxazol-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[1-(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-cyclopropyl-3-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-4-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-[(cyclopropyl{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-5-phenylisoxazol-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   N-[1-(2-furyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   4-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   5-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]isoxazol-2-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   N-[1-(2-thienyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide. -   2-methyl-4-[1-({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium     trifluoroacetate -   3-methyl-5-[1-({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-4H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ium     trifluoroacetate; -   2-[1-(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   4-[1-(methyl{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   3-[1-(methyl{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium     trifluoroacetate; -   tert-butyl     3-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1H-indole-1-carboxylate; -   N-[1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[5-(acetylamino)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(6-ethoxy-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2-phenylethyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(4-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[2-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(5-methylpyridin-2-yl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   methyl     2-{[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)sulfonyl]methyl}benzoate; -   N-(1-benzothien-3-ylsulfonyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(4-phenoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(4,4-diphenylbutyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(3,3-diphenylpropyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2,2-diphenylethyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(1,2-benzisoxazol-3-ylmethyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)     thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-({[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]methyl}sulfonyl)     -5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(4-cyanobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide, -   N-[(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2-cyclohexylethyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   5-(trifluoroacetyl)-N-{[2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]sulfonyl}thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   5-(trifluoroacetyl)-N-{[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl}thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(5-bromo-2-thienyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(3-phenylpropyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-({5-[(benzoylamino)methyl]-2-thienyl}sulfonyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-biphenyl-4-ylsulfonyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(2,5-dichloro-3-thienyl)sulfonyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-{[3-(4-methoxyphenoxy)propyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-[(3-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   N-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-6-ylsulfonyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide; -   1-[2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-1-ylcarbonyl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone;     and the pharmaceutically acceptable free bases, salts and     stereoisomers thereof.

Included in the instant invention is the free base of compounds of Formula I, as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and stereoisomers thereof. Some of the specific compounds exemplified herein are the protonated salts of amine compounds. Compounds of Formula I with a heterocycle ring containing 2 or more N atoms may be protonated on any one, some or all of the N atoms. The term “free base” refers to the amine compounds in non-salt form. The encompassed pharmaceutically acceptable salts not only include the salts exemplified for the specific compounds described herein, but also all the typical pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the free form of compounds of Formula I. The free form of the specific salt compounds described may be isolated using techniques known in the art. For example, the free form may be regenerated by treating the salt with a suitable dilute aqueous base solution such as dilute aqueous NaOH, potassium carbonate, ammonia and sodium bicarbonate. The free forms may differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties, such as solubility in polar solvents, but the acid and base salts are otherwise pharmaceutically equivalent to their respective free forms for purposes of the invention.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the instant compounds can be synthesized from the compounds of this invention which contain a basic or acidic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, the salts of the basic compounds are prepared either by ion exchange chromatography or by reacting the free base with stoichiometric amounts or with an excess of the desired salt-forming inorganic or organic acid in a suitable solvent or various combinations of solvents. Similarly, the salts of the acidic compounds are formed by reactions with the appropriate inorganic or organic base.

Thus, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include the conventional non-toxic salts of the compounds of this invention as formed by reacting a basic instant compound with an inorganic or organic acid. For example, conventional non-toxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric and the like, as well as salts prepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxy-benzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, trifluoroacetic and the like. Preferably, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of this invention contains 1 equivalent of a compound of formula (I) and 1, 2 or 3 equivalent of an inorganic or organic acid. More particularly, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of this invention are the trifluoroacetate or the chloride salts, especially the trifluoroacetate salts.

When the compound of the present invention is acidic, suitable “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts prepared form pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases including inorganic bases and organic bases. Salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc and the like. Particularly preferred are the ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium salts. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion exchange resins, such as arginine, betaine caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamin, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine tripropylamine, tromethamine and the like.

The preparation of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts described above and other typical pharmaceutically acceptable salts is more fully described by Berg et al (1977) J. Pharm. Sci., ‘Pharmaceutical Salts’, 66:1-19.

It will also be noted that the compounds of the present invention are potentially internal salts or zwitterions, since under physiological conditions a deprotonated acidic moiety in the compound, such as a carboxyl group, may be anionic, and this electronic charge might then be balanced off internally against the cationic charge of a protonated or alkylated basic moiety, such as a quaternary nitrogen atom.

The compounds of the invention can be used in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

The compounds of the invention find use in a variety of applications for human and animal health. The compounds of the invention are histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors useful in the treatment of cancer among other diseases. HDACs catalyse the removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues on proteins, including histones and HDAC inhibitors show diverse biological functions including affecting gene expression, cell differentiation, cell cycle progression, growth arrest, and/or apoptosis. See J. Med. Chem. (2003) 46:5097 and Curr. Med. Chem. (2003) 10:2343.

The compounds of the invention are used to treat cellular proliferation diseases. Disease states which can be treated by the methods and compositions provided herein include, but are not limited to, cancer (further discussed below), neurodegenerative diseases, schizophrenia and stroke.

The compounds, compositions and methods provided herein are particularly deemed useful for the treatment of cancer including solid tumors such as skin, breast, brain, cervical carcinomas, testicular carcinomas, etc. In particular, cancers that may be treated by the compounds, compositions and methods of the invention include, but are not limited to: Cardiac: sarcoma (angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma), myxoma, rhabdomyoma, fibroma, lipoma and teratoma; Lung: bronchogenic carcinoma (squamous cell, undifferentiated small cell, undifferentiated large cell, adenocarcinoma), alveolar (bronchiolar) carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, chondromatous hamartoma, mesothelioma; Gastrointestinal: esophagus (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma), stomach (carcinoma, lymphoma, leiomyosarcoma), pancreas (ductal adenocarcinoma, insulinoma, glucagonoma, gastrinoma, carcinoid tumors, vipoma), small bowel (adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, Karposi's sarcoma, leiomyoma, hemangioma, lipoma, neurofibroma, fibroma), large bowel (adenocarcinoma, tubular adenoma, villous adenoma, hamartoma, leiomyoma); Genitourinary tract kidney (adenocarcinoma, Wilm's tumor [nephroblastoma], lymphoma, leukemia), bladder and urethra (squamous cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma), prostate (adenocarcinoma, sarcoma), testis (seminoma, teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratocarcinoma, choriocarcinoma, sarcoma, interstitial cell carcinoma, fibroma, fibroadenoma, adenomatoid tumors, lipoma); Liver: hepatoma (hepatocellular carcinoma), cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, angiosarcoma, hepatocellular adenoma, hemangioma; Bone: osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma), fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, malignant lymphoma (reticulum cell sarcoma), multiple myeloma, malignant giant cell tumor chordoma, osteochronfroma (osteocartilaginous exostoses), benign chondroma, chondroblastoma, chondromyxofibroma, osteoid osteoma and giant cell tumors; Nervous system: skull (osteoma, hemangioma, granuloma, xanthoma, osteitis deformans), meninges (meningioma, meningiosarcoma, gliomatosis), brain (astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, ependymoma, germinoma [pinealoma], glioblastoma multiform, oligodendroglioma, schwannoma, retinoblastoma, congenital tumors), spinal cord neurofibroma, meningioma, glioma, sarcoma); Gynecological: uterus (endometrial carcinoma), cervix (cervical carcinoma, pre-tumor cervical dysplasia), ovaries (ovarian carcinoma [serous cystadenocarcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, unclassified carcinoma], granulosa-thecal cell tumors, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, dysgerminoma, malignant teratoma), vulva (squamous cell carcinoma, intraepithelial carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, melanoma), vagina (clear cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, botryoid sarcoma (embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma), fallopian tubes (carcinoma); Hematologic: blood (myeloid leukemia [acute and chronic], acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myeloproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [malignant lymphoma]; Skin: malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Karposi's sarcoma, moles dysplastic nevi, lipoma, angioma, dermatofibroma, keloids, psoriasis; and Adrenal glands: neuroblastoma. Thus, the term “cancerous cell” as provided herein, includes a cell afflicted by any one of the above-identified conditions.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for use in the manufacture of a medicament for treating cellular proliferation diseases.

The present invention also provides a method for the treatment of cellular proliferation diseases, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

The compounds of the instant invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, including, but not limited to, polyglutamine-expansion-related neurodegeneration, Huntington's disease, Kennedy's disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), protein-aggregation-related neurodegeneration, Machado-Joseph's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spongiform encephalopathy, a prion-related disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). See WO 02/090534 and WO 03/083067.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for use in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of mental retardation, in particular “X chromosome-linked mental retardation” and “Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome”.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing mental retardation.

The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing mental retardation, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of schizophrenia, see WO 02/090534.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing schizophrenia The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing schizophrenia, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases, including, but not limited to stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis and traumatic brain injuries. See Leoni et al (2002), PNAS, 99(5):2995-3000, Suuronen et al. (2003) J. Neurochem, 87:407-416 and Drug Discovery Today (2005), 10:197-204.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing inflammatory diseases.

The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing inflammatory diseases, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation and/or migration and are thus useful in the prevention and/or treatment of restenosis, for example after angioplasty and/or stent implantation.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing restenosis.

The present invention also provides a method for treating or prevention restenosis, which method comprises administration to a patient in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

In one embodiment, smooth muscle cell proliferation and/or migration is inhibited and restenosis is prevented and/or treated by providing a stent device having one or more of the compounds of the instant invention in or on the stent device, e.g. coated onto the stent device. The stent device is designed to controllably release the compounds of the invention, thereby inhibiting smooth miscle cell proliferation and/or migration and preventing and/or treating restenosis.

Stenosis and restenosis are conditions associated with a narrowing of blood vessels. Stenosis of blood vessels generally occurs gradually over time. Restenosis, in contrast, relates to a narrowing of blood vessels following an endovascular procedure, such as balloon angioplasty and/or stent implantation, or a vascular injury.

Balloon angioplasty is typically performed to open a stenotic blood vessel; stenting is usually performed to maintain the patency of a blood vessel after, or in combination with, balloon angioplasty. A stenotic blood vessel is opened with balloon angioplasty by navigating a balloon-tipped catheter to the site of stenosis, and expanding the balloon tip effectively to dilate the occluded blood vessel. In an effort to maintain the patency of the dilated blood vessel, a stent may be implanted in the blood vessel to provide intravascular support to the opened section of the blood vessel, thereby limiting the extent to which the blood vessel will return to its occluded state after release of the balloon catheter. Restenosis is typically caused by trauma inflicted during angioplasty, effected by, for example, ballon dilation, atherectomy or laser ablation treatment of the artery. For these procedures, restenosis occurs at a rate of about 30% to about 60% depending on the vessel location, lesion length and a number of other variables. This reduces the overall success of the relatively non-invasive balloon angioplasty and stenting procedures.

Restenosis is attributed to many factors, including proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC). SMC proliferation is triggered by the initial mechanical injury to the intima that is sustained at the time of balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. The process is characterized by early platelet activation and thrombus formation, followed by SMC recruitment and migration, and, finally, cellular proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation. Damaged endothelial cells, SMCs, platelets, and macrophages secrete cytokines and growth factors which promote restenosis. SMC proliferation represents the final common pathway leading to neointimal hyperplasia. Therefore, anti-proliferative therapies aimed at inhibiting specific regulatory events in the cell cycle may constitute the most reasonable approach to restenosis after angioplasty.

The compounds of the invention may also be used as immunosuppressants or immunomodulators and can accordingly be used in the treatment or prevention of immune response or immune-mediated responses and diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and acute or chronic transplant rejection in a recipient of an organ, tissue or cell transplant, (see WO 05/013958).

Examples of autoimmune diseases for which the compounds of the invention may be employed include autoimmune hematological disorders (including hemolytic anaemia, aplastic anaemia, pure red cell anaemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenia), systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, polychondritis, sclerodoma, Wegener granulamatosis, dermatomyositis, chronic active hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vasculitis, Steven-Johnson syndrome, idiopathic sprue, autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) endocrine opthalmopathy, Graves disease, sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, primary billiary cirrhosis, juvenile diabetes (diabetes mellitus type I), diabetes type II and the disorders associated therewith, uveitis (anterior and posterior), keratoconjunctivitis sicca and vernal keratoconjunctivitis, interstitial lung fibrosis, psoriatic arthritis, glomerulonephritis (with and without nephrotic syndrome, including idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or minimal change nephropathy), juvenile dermatomyositisinfectious, auto-antibody mediated diseases, aplastic anemia, Evan's syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, infectious diseases causing aberrant immune response and/or activation, such as traumatic or pathogen induced immune disregulation, including for example, that which are caused by hepatitis B and C infections, staphylococcus aureus infection, viral encephalitis, sepsis, parasitic diseases wherein damage is induced by inflammatory response (e.g. leprosy); and circulatory diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, polyarteritis nodosa and myocarditis.

Thus, the present invention provides a compound of formula I for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of immune disorders.

The present invention also provides a method for treating or preventing immune disorders, which method comprises administration to a patent in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I or a composition comprising a compound of formula I.

The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of other diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, asthma, cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, (see Cell (2002), 110:479-488).

The compounds of this invention may be administered to mammals, preferably humans, either alone or in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents, in a pharmaceutical composition, according to standard pharmaceutical practice. In one embodiment, the compounds of this invention may be administered to animals. The compounds can be administered orally or parenterally, including the intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal and topical routes of administration.

The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of this invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium crosscarmellose, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example, magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to mask the unpleasant taste of the drug or delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a water soluble taste masking material such as hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose or hydroxypropylcellulose, or a time delay material such as ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate may be employed.

Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water soluble carrier such as polyethyleneglycol or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil.

Aqueous suspensions contain the active material in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose, saccharin or aspartame.

Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as butylated hydroxyanisol or alpha-tocopherol.

Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of an oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening, flavoring agents, preservatives and antioxidants.

Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative, flavoring and coloring agents and antioxidant.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous solutions. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution.

The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable oil-in-water microemulsion where the active ingredient is dissolved in the oily phase. For example, the active ingredient may be first dissolved in a mixture of soybean oil and lecithin. The oil solution then introduced into a water and glycerol mixture and processed to form a microemulation.

The injectable solutions or microemulsions may be introduced into a patient's blood stream by local bolus injection. Alternatively, it may be advantageous to administer the solution or microemulsion in such a way as to maintain a constant circulating concentration of the instant compound In order to maintain such a constant concentration, a continuous intravenous delivery device may be utilized. An example of such a device is the Deltec CADD-PLUS™ model 5400 intravenous pump.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension for intramuscular and subcutaneous administration. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

Compounds of Formula I may also be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, glycerinated gelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol.

For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions, etc., containing the compound of Formula I are employed. (For purposes of this application, topical application shall include mouth washes and gargles.)

The compounds for the present invention can be administered in intranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles and delivery devices, or via transdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. To be administered in the form of a transdermal delivery system, the dosage administration will, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout the dosage regimen. Compounds of the present invention may also be delivered as a suppository employing bases such as cocoa butter, glycerinated gelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol.

When a compound according to this invention is administered into a human subject, the daily dosage will normally be determined by the prescribing physician with the dosage generally varying according to the age, weight, sex and response of the individual patient, as well as the severity of the patient's symptoms.

In one exemplary application, a suitable amount of compound is administered to a mammal undergoing treatment for cancer. Administration generally occurs in an amount between about 0.1 mg/kg of body weight to about 60 mg/kg of body weight per day, preferably of between 0.5 mg/kg of body weight to about 40 mg/kg of body weight per day.

The instant compounds are also useful in combination with known therapeutic agents and anti-cancer agents. Thus, this invention provides combinations of compounds of formula (I) and known therapeutic agents and/or anticancer agents for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration. For example, instant compounds are useful in combination with known anti-cancer agents. Combinations of the presently disclosed compounds with other anticancer or chemotherapeutic agents are within the scope of the invention. Examples of such agents can be found in Cancer Principles and Practice of Oncologyby V. T. Devita and S. Hellman (editors), 6^(th) edition (Feb. 15, 2001), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers. A person of ordinary skill in the art would be able to discern which combinations of agents would be useful based on the particular characteristics of the drugs and the cancer involved. Such anti-cancer agents include, but are not limited to, the following: other HDAC inhibitors, estrogen receptor modulators, androgen receptor modulators, retinoid receptor modulators, cytotoxic/cytostatic agents, antiproliferative agents, prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and other angiogenesis inhibitors, inhibitors of cell proliferation and survival signaling, apoptosis inducing agents and agents that interfere with cell cycle checkpoints. The instant compounds are particularly useful when co-administered with radiation therapy.

In an embodiment, the instant compounds are also useful in combination with known anti-cancer agents including the following: other HDAC inhibitors, estrogen receptor modulators, androgen receptor modulators, retinoid receptor modulators, cytotoxic agents, antiproliferative agents, prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, HIV protease inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and other angiogenesis inhibitors.

Examples of “other HDAC inhibitors” include suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), LAQ824, LBH589, PXD101, MS275, FK228, valproic acid, butyric acid and CI-994. A further example is trichostatin A (TSA).

“Estrogen receptor modulators” refers to compounds that interfere with or inhibit the binding of estrogen to the receptor, regardless of mechanism. Examples of estrogen receptor modulators include, but are not limited to, tamoxifen, raloxifene, idoxifene, LY353381, LY117081, toremifene, fulvestrant, 4-[7-(2,2-dimethyl-1-oxopropoxy-4-methyl-2-[4-[2-(1-piperidinyl)ethoxy]phenyl]-2H-1-benzopyran-3-yl]-phenyl-2,2-dimethylpropanoate, 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazone, and SH646.

“Androgen receptor modulators” refers to compounds which interfere or inhibit the binding of androgens to the receptor, regardless of mechanism. Examples of androgen receptor modulators include finasteride and other 5α-reductase inhibitors, nilutamide, flutamide, bicalutamide, liarozole, and abiraterone acetate.

“Retinoid receptor modulators” refers to compounds which interfere or inhibit the binding of retinoids to the receptor, regardless of mechanism. Examples of such retinoid receptor modulators include bexarotene, tretinoin, 13-cis-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, α-difluoromethylornithine, ILX23-7553, trans-N-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide, and N-4-carboxyphenyl retinamide.

“Cytotoxic/cytostatic agents” refer to compounds which cause cell death or inhibit cell proliferation primarily by interfering directly with the cell's functioning or inhibit or interfere with cell mytosis, including alkylating agents, tumor necrosis factors, intercalators, hypoxia activatable compounds, microtubule inhibitors/microtubule-stabilizing agents, inhibitors of mitotic kinesins, inhibitors of kinases involved in mitotic progression, antimetabolites; biological response modifiers; hormonal/anti-hormonal therapeutic agents, haematopoietic growth factors, monoclonal antibody targeted therapeutic agents, topoisomerase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors and ubiquitin ligase inhibitors.

Examples of cytotoxic agents include, but are not limited to, sertenef, cachectin, ifosfamide, tasonermin, lonidamine, carboplatin, altretamine, prednimustine, dibromodulcitol, ranimustine, fotemustine, nedaplatin, oxaliplatin, temozolomide, heptaplatin, estramustine, improsulfan tosilate, trofosfamide, nimustine, dibrospidium chloride, pumitepa, lobaplatin, satraplatin, profiromycin, cisplatin, irofulven, dexifosfamide, cis-aminedichloro(2-methyl-pyridine)platinum, benzylguanine, glufosfamide, GPX100, (trans, trans, trans)bis-mu-(hexane-1,6-diamine)-mu-[diamine-platinum(II)]bis[diamine(chloro)platinum (U)]tetrachloride, diarizidinylspermine, arsenic trioxide, 1-(11-dodecylamino-10-hydroxyundecyl)-3,7-dimethylxanthine, zorubicin, idarubicin, daunorubicin, bisantrene, mitoxantrone, pirarubicin, pinafide, valrubicin, amrubicin, antineoplaston, 3′-deamino-3′-morpholino-13-deoxo-10-hydroxycaminomycin, annamycin, galarubicin, elinafide, MEN10755, and 4-demethoxy-3-deamino-3-aziridinyl-4-methylsulphonyl-daunorubicin (see WO 00/50032).

An example of a hypoxia activatable compound is tirapazamine.

Examples of proteasome inhibitors include but are not limited to lactacystin, bortezomib, epoxomicin and peptide aldehydes such as MG 132, MG 115 and PSI.

In an embodiment, the compounds of the present invention may be used in combination with other HDAC inhibitors such as SAHA and proteasome inhibitors.

Examples of microtubule inhibitors/microtubule-stabilising agents include paclitaxel, vindesine sulfate, 3′,4′-didehydro-4′-deoxy-8′-norvincaleukoblastine, docetaxol, rhizoxin, dolastatin, mivobulin isethionate, auristatin, cemadotin, RPR109881, BMS184476, vinflunine, cryptophycin, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)benzene sulfonamide, anhydrovinblastine, N,N-dimethyl-L-valyl-L-valyl-N-methyl-L-valyl-L-prolyl-L-proline-t-butylamide, TDX258, the epothilones (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,284,781 and 6,288,237) and BMS188797.

Some examples of topoisomerase inhibitors are topotecan, hycaptamine, irinotecan, rubitecan, 6-ethoxypropionyl-3′,4′-O-exo-benzylidene-chartreusin, 9-methoxy-N,N-dimethyl-5-nitropyrazolo[3,4,5-kl]acridine-2-(6H) propanamine, 1-amino-9-ethyl-5-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-9-hydroxy-4-methyl-1H,12H-benzo[de]pyrano[3′,4′:b,7]-indolizino[1,2b]quinoline-10,13(9H,15H)dione, lurtotecan, 7-[2-(N-isopropylamino)ethyl]-(20S)camptothecin, BNP1350, BNPI1100, BN80915, BN80942, etoposide phosphate, teniposide, sobuzoxane, 2′-dimethylamino-2′-deoxy-etoposide, GL331, N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-9-hydroxy-5,6-dimethyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole-1-carboxamide, asulacrine, (5a,5aB,8aa,9b)-9-[2-[N-[2-dimethylamino)ethyl]-N-methylamino]ethyl]-5-[4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl]-5,5a,6,8,8a,9-hexohydrofuro(3′,4′:6,7)naphtho(2,3-d)-1,3-dioxol-6-one, 2,3-(methylenedioxy)-5-methyl-7-hydroxy-8-methoxybenzo[c]-phenanthridinium, 6,9-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino]benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione, 5-(3-aminopropylamino)-7,10-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethylaminomethyl)-6H-pyrazolo[4,5,1-de]acridin-one, N-[1-[2(diethylamino)ethylamino]-7-methoxy-9-oxo-9H-thioxanthen-4-ylmethyl]formamide, N-(2-dimethylamino)ethyl)acridine-4-carboxamide, 6-[[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amino]-3-hydroxy-7H-indeno[2,1-c]quinolin-7-one, and dimesna.

Examples of inhibitors of mitotic kinesins, and in particular the human mitotic kinesin KSP, are described in PCT Publications WO 01/30768, WO 01/98278, WO 02/056880, WO 03/050,064, WO 03/050,122, WO 03/049,527, WO 03/049,679, WO 03/049,678, WO 03/039460, WO 03/079973, WO 03/099211, WO 2004/039774, WO 03/105855, WO 03/106417, WO 2004/087050, WO 2004/058700, WO 2004/058148 and WO 2004/037171 and US applications US 2004/132830 and US 2004/132719. In an embodiment inhibitors of mitotic kinesins include, but are not limited to inhibitors of KSP, inhibitors of MKLP1, inhibitors of CENP-E, inhibitors of MCAK, inhibitors of Kif14, inhibitors of Mphosph1 and inhibitors of Rab6-KIFL.

“Inhibitors of kinases involved in mitotic progression” include, but are not limited to, inhibitors of aurora kinase, inhibitors of Polo-like kinases (PLK) (in particular inhibitors of PLK-1), inhibitors of bub-1 and inhibitors of bub-R1.

“Antiproliferative agents” includes antisense RNA and DNA oligonucleotides such as G3139, ODN698, RVASKRAS, GEM231, and INX3001, and antimetabolites such as enocitabine, carmofur, tegafur, pentostatin, doxifluridine, trimeterxate, fludarabine, capecitabine, galocitabine, cytarabine ocfosfate, fosteabine sodium hydrate, raltitrexed, paltitrexid, emitefur, tiazofurin, decitabine, nolatrexed, pemeterxed, nelarabine, 2′-deoxy-2′-methylidenecytidine, 2′-fluoromethylene-2′-deoxycytidine, N-[5-(2,3-dihydro-benzofuryl)sulfonyl]-N′-3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea, N6-[4-deoxy-4-[N2-[2(E),4(E) tetradecadienoyl]glycylamino]-L-glycero-B-L-manno-heptopyranosyl]adenine, aplidine, ecteinascidin, troxacitabine, 4-[2-amino-4-oxo-4,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-pyrimidino[5,4-b][1,4]thiazin-6-yl-(S)-ethyl]-2,5-thienoyl-L-glutamic acid, aminopterin, 5-fluorouracil, alanosine, 11-acetyl-8-(carbamoyloxymethyl)-4-formyl-6-methoxy-14-oxa-1,11-diazatetracyclo(7.4.1.0.0)-tetradeca-2,4,6-trien-9-yl acetic acid ester, swainsonine, lometerxol, dexrazoxane, methioninase, 2′-cyano-2′-deoxy-N4-palmitoyl-1-B-D-arabino furanosyl cytosine and 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone.

Examples of monoclonal antibody targeted therapeutic agents include those therapeutic agents which have cytotoxic agents or radioisotopes attached to a cancer cell specific or target cell specific monoclonal antibody. Examples include Bexxar.

“HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors” refers to inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. Examples of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that may be used include but are not limited to lovastatin (MEVACOR®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,231,938, 4,294,926 and 4,319,039), simvastatin (ZOCOR®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,784, 4,820,850 and 4,916,239), pravastatin (PRAVACHOL®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,346,227, 4,537,859, 4,410,629, 5,030,447 and 5,180,589), fluvastatin (LESCOL®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,772, 4,911,165, 4,929,437, 5,189,164, 5,118,853, 5,290,946 and 5,356,896) and atorvastatin (LIPITOR®; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,273,995, 4,681,893, 5,489,691 and 5,342,952). The structural formulas of these and additional HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that may be used in the instant methods are described at page 87 of M. Yalpani, “Cholesterol Lowering Drugs”, Chemistry & Industry, pp. 85-89 (5 Feb. 1996) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,782,084 and 4,885,314. The term HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor as used herein includes all pharmaceutically acceptable lactone and open-acid forms (i.e., where the lactone ring is opened to form the free acid) as well as salt and ester forms of compounds which have HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity, and therefore the use of such salts, esters, open-acid and lactone forms is included within the scope of this invention.

“Prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor” refers to a compound which inhibits any one or any combination of the prenyl-protein transferase enzymes, including farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase), geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I (GGPTase-I), and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type-II (GGPTase-II, also called Rab GGPTase).

Examples of prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors can be found in the following publications and patents: WO 96/30343, WO 97/18813, WO 97/21701, WO 97/23478, WO 97/38665, WO 98/28980, WO 98/29119, WO 95/32987, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,420,245, 5,523,430, 5,532,359, 5,510,510, 5,589,485, 5,602,098, European Patent Publ. 0 618 221, European Patent Publ. 0 675 112, European Patent Publ. 0 604 181, European Patent Publ. 0 696 593, WO 94/19357, WO 95/08542, WO 95/11917, WO 95/12612, WO 95/12572, WO 95/10514, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,152, WO 95/10515, WO 95/10516, WO 95/24612, WO 95/34535, WO 95/25086, WO 96/05529, WO 96/06138, WO 96/06193, WO 96/16443, WO 96/21701, WO 96/21456, WO 96/22278, WO 96/24611, WO 96/24612, WO 96/05168, WO 96/05169, WO 96/00736, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,792, WO 96/17861, WO 96/33159, WO 96/34850, WO 96/34851, WO 96/30017, WO 96/30018, WO 96/30362, WO 96/30363, WO 96/31111, WO 96/31477, WO 96/31478, WO 96/31501, WO 97/00252, WO 97/03047, WO 97/03050, WO 97/04785, WO 97/02920, WO 97/17070, WO 97/23478, WO 97/26246, WO 97/30053, WO 97/44350, WO 98/02436, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,359.

For an example of the role of a prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor on angiogenesis see European J. of Cancer (1999), 35(9):1394-1401.

“Angiogenesis inhibitors” refers to compounds that inhibit the formation of new blood vessels, regardless of mechanism. Examples of angiogenesis inhibitors include, but are not limited to, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase receptors Flt-1 (VEGFR1) and Flk-1/KDR (VEGFR2), inhibitors of epidermal-derived, fibroblast-derived, or platelet derived growth factors, MMP (matrix metalloprotease) inhibitors, integrin blockers, interferon-α, interleukin-12, pentosan polysulfate, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen as well as selective cyclooxy-genase-2 inhibitors like celecoxib and rofecoxib (PNAS (1992) 89:7384; JNCI (1982) 69:475; Arch. Opthalmol. (1990) 108:573; Anat. Rec. (1994) 238:68; FEBS Letters (1995) 372:83; Clin, Orthop. (1995) 313:76; J. Mol. Endocrinol. (1996) 16:107; Jpn. J. Pharmacol. (1997) 75:105; Cancer Res. (1997) 57:1625 (1997); Cell (1998) 93:705; Intl. J. Mol. Med. (1998) 2:715; J. Biol. Chem. (1999) 274:9116)), steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids, dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, methylpred, betamethasone), carboxyamidotriazole, combretastatin A4, squalamine, 6-O-chloroacetyl-carbonyl) -fumagillol, thalidomide, angiostatin, troponin-1, angiotensin II antagonists (see Fernandez et al (1985) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 105:141-145), and antibodies to VEGF (see, Nature Biotechnology (1999) 17:963-968; Kim et al (1993) Nature 362:841-844; WO 00/44777; and WO 00/61186).

Other therapeutic agents that modulate or inhibit angiogenesis and may also be used in combination with the compounds of the instant invention include agents that modulate or inhibit the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems (see review in Clin. Chem. La. Med. (2000) 38:679-692). Examples of such agents that modulate or inhibit the coagulation and fibrinolysis pathways include, but are not limited to, heparin (see Thromb. Haemost. (1998) 80:10-23), low molecular weight heparins and carboxypeptidase U inhibitors (also known as inhibitors of active thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor [TAFIa]) (see Thrombosis Res. (2001) 101:329-354). TAFIa inhibitors have been described in PCT Publication WO 03/013,526 and U.S. Ser. No. 60/349,925 (filed Jan. 18, 2002).

“Agents that interfere with cell cycle checkpoints” refer to compounds that inhibit protein kinases that transduce cell cycle checkpoint signals, thereby sensitizing the cancer cell to DNA damaging agents. Such agents include inhibitors of ATR, ATM, the Chk1 and Chk2 kinases and cdk and cdc kinase inhibitors and are specifically exemplified by 7-hydroxystaurosporin, flavopiridol, CYC202 (Cyclacel) and BMS-387032.

“Inhibitors of cell proliferation and survival signaling pathway” refer to pharmaceutical agents that inhibit cell surface receptors and signal transduction cascades downstream of those surface receptors. Such agents include inhibitors of inhibitors of EGFR (for example gefitinib and erlotinib), inhibitors of ERB-2 (for example trastuzumab), inhibitors of IGFR (for example those disclosed in WO 03/059951), inhibitors of cytokine receptors, inhibitors of MET, inhibitors of PI3K (for example LY294002), serine/threonine kinases (including but not limited to inhibitors of Akt such as described in (WO 03/086404, WO 03/086403, WO 03/086394, WO 03/086279, WO 02/083675, WO 02/083139, WO 02/083140 and WO 02/083138), inhibitors of Raf kinase (for example BAY-43-9006), inhibitors of MEK (for example CI-1040 and PD-098059) and inhibitors of mTOR (for example Wyeth CCI-779 and Ariad AP23573). Such agents include small molecule inhibitor compounds and antibody antagonists.

“Apoptosis inducing agents” include activators of TNF receptor family members (including the TRAIL receptors).

The invention also encompasses combinations with NSAID's which are selective COX-2 inhibitors. For purposes of this specification NSAID's which are selective inhibitors of COX-2 are defined as those which possess a specificity for inhibiting COX-2 over COX-1 of at least 100 fold as measured by the ratio of IC₅₀ for COX-2 over IC₅₀ for COX-1 evaluated by cell or microsomal assays. Such compounds include, but are not limited to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,474,995, 5,861,419, 6,001,843, 6,020,343, 5,409,944, 5,436,265, 5,536,752, 5,550,142, 5,604,260, 5,698,584, 5,710,140, WO 94/15932, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,991, 5,134,142, 5,380,738, 5,393,790, 5,466,823, 5,633,272, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,598, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Inhibitors of COX-2 that are particularly useful in the instant method of treatment are 5-chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(2-methyl-5-pyridinyl)pyridine; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Compounds that have been described as specific inhibitors of COX-2 and are therefore useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to: parecoxib, CELEBREX® and BEXTRA® or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Other examples of angiogenesis inhibitors include, but are not limited to, endostatin, ukrain, ranpirnase, IM862, 5-methoxy-4-[2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)oxiranyl]-1-oxaspiro[2,5]oct-6-yl(chloroacetyl)carbamate, acetyldinanaline, 5-amino-1-[[3,5-dichloro-4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenyl]methyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide, CM101, squalamine, combretastatin, RPI4610, NX31838, sulfated mannopentaose phosphate, 7,7-(carbonyl-bis[imino-N-methyl-4,2-pyrrolocarbonylimino[N-methyl-4,2-pyrrole]-carbonylimino]-bis-(1,3-naphthalene disulfonate), and 3-[(2,4-dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methylene]-2-indolinone (SU5416).

As used above, “integrin blockers” refers to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the α_(v)β₃ integrin, to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the α_(v)β₅ integrin, to compounds which antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to both the α_(v)β₃ integrin and the α_(v)β₅ integrin, and to compounds which antagonize, inhibit or counteract the activity of the particular integrin(s) expressed on capillary endothelial cells. The term also refers to antagonists of the α_(v)β₆, α_(v)β₈, α₁β₁, α₂β₁, α₅β₁, α₆β₁ and α₆β₄ integrins. The term also refers to antagonists of any combination of α_(v)β₃, α_(v)β₅,α_(v)β₆, α_(v)β₈, α₁β₁, α₂β₁,β₅α₁, α₆β₁ and α₆β₄ integrins.

Some specific examples of tyrosine kinase inhibitors include N-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-methylisoxazol-4-carboxamide, 3-[(2,4-dimethylpyrrol-5-yl)methylidenyl)indolin-2-one, 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, 4-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenylamino)-7-methoxy-6-[3-(4-morpholinyl)propoxyl]quinazoline, N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)4-quinazolinamine, BIBX1382, 2,3,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-10-(hydroxymethyl)-10-hydroxy-9-methyl-9,12-epoxy-1H-diindolo[1,2,3-fg:3′,2′,1′-kl]pyrrolo[3,4-i][1,6]benzodiazocin-1-one, SH268, genistein, STI571, CEP2563, 4-(3-chlorophenylamino)-5,6-dimethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidinemethane sulfonate, 4-(3-bromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline, 4-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline, SU6668, STI571A, N-4-chlorophenyl-4-(4-pyridylmethyl)-1-phthalazinamine, and EMD121974.

Combinations with compounds other than anti-cancer compounds are also encompassed in the instant methods. For example, combinations of the instantly claimed compounds with PPAR-γ (i.e., PPAR-gamma) agonists and PPAR-67 (i.e., PPAR-delta) agonists are useful in the treatment of certain malignancies. PPAR-γ and PPAR-δ are the nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ and δ. The expression of PPAR-γ on endothelial cells and its involvement in angiogenesis has been reported in the literature (see J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. (1998) 31:909-913; J. Biol. Chem. (1999) 274:9116-9121; Invest. Opthalmol Vis. Sci. (2000) 41:2309-2317). More recently, PPAR-γ agonists have been shown to inhibit the angiogenic response to VEGF in vitro; both troglitazone and rosiglitazone maleate inhibit the development of retinal neovascularization in mice. (Arch. Ophthamol. (2001) 119:709-717). Examples of PPAR-γ agonists and PPAR-γ/α agonists include, but are not limited to, thiazolidinediones (such as DRF2725, CS-011, troglitazone, rosiglitazone, and pioglitazone), fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, clofibrate, GW2570, SB219994, AR-H039242, JTT-501, MCC-555, GW2331, GW409544, NN2344, KRP297, NP0110, DRF4158, NN622, GI262570, PNU182716, DRF552926, 2-[(5,7-dipropyl-3-trifluoromethyl-1,2-benzisoxazol-6-yl)oxy]-2-methylpropionic acid (disclosed in USSN 09/782,856), and 2(R)-7-(3-(2-chloro-4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenoxy)propoxy)-2-ethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid (disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 60/235,708 and 60/244,697).

Another embodiment of the instant invention is the use of the presently disclosed compounds in combination with anti-viral agents (such as nucleoside analogs including ganciclovir for the treatment of cancer. See WO 98/04290.

Another embodiment of the instant invention is the use of the presently disclosed compounds in combination with gene therapy for the treatment of cancer. For an overview of genetic strategies to treating cancer see Hall et al (Am J Hum Genet (1997) 61:785-789) and Kufe et al (Cancer Medicine, 5th Ed, pp 876-889, BC Decker, Hamilton 2000). Gene therapy can be used to deliver any tumor suppressing gene. Examples of such genes include, but are not limited to, p53, which can be delivered via recombinant virus-mediated gene transfer (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,134, for example), a uPA/uPAR antagonist (“Adenovirus-Mediated Delivery of a uPA/uPAR Antagonist Suppresses Angiogenesis-Dependent Tumor Growth and Dissemination in Mice,” Gene Therapy, August (1998) 5(8):1105-13), and interferon gamma (J Immunol (2000) 164:217-222).

The compounds of the instant invention may also be administered in combination with an inhibitor of inherent multidrug resistance (MDR), in particular MDR associated with high levels of expression of transporter proteins. Such MDR inhibitors include inhibitors of p-glycoprotein (P-gp), such as LY335979, XR9576, OC144-093, R101922, VX853 and PSC833 (valspodar).

A compound of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with anti-emetic agents to treat nausea or emesis, including acute, delayed, late-phase, and anticipatory emesis, which may result from the use of a compound of the present invention, alone or with radiation therapy. For the prevention or treatment of emesis, a compound of the present invention may be used in conjunction with other anti-emetic agents, especially neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists, 5HT3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and zatisetron, GABA_(B) receptor agonists, such as baclofen, a corticosteroid such as Decadron (dexamethasone), Kenalog, Aristocort, Nasalide, Preferid, Benecorten or others such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,789,118, 2,990,401, 3,048,581, 3,126,375, 3,929,768, 3,996,359, 3,928,326 and 3,749,712, an antidopaminergic, such as the phenothiazines (for example prochlorperazine, fluphenazine, thioridazine and mesoridazine), metoclopramide or dronabinol. In an embodiment, an anti-emesis agent selected from a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist and a corticosteroid is administered as an adjuvant for the treatment or prevention of emesis that may result upon administration of the instant compounds.

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists of use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention are fully described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,162,339, 5,232,929, 5,242,930, 5,373,003, 5,387,595, 5,459,270, 5,494,926, 5,496,833, 5,637,699, 5,719,147; European Patent Publication Nos. EP 0 360 390, 0 394 989, 0 428 434, 0 429 366, 0 430 771, 0 436 334, 0 443 132, 0 482 539, 0 498 069, 0 499 313, 0 512 901, 0 512 902, 0 514 273, 0 514 274, 0 514 275, 0 514 276, 0 515 681, 0 517 589, 0 520 555, 0 522 808, 0 528 495, 0 532 456, 0 533 280, 0 536 817, 0 545 478, 0 558 156, 0 577 394, 0 585 913, 0 590 152, 0 599 538, 0 610 793, 0 634 402, 0 686 629, 0 693 489, 0 694 535, 0 699 655, 0 699 674, 0 707 006, 0 708 101, 0 709 375, 0 709 376, 0 714 891, 0 723 959, 0 733 632 and 0 776 893; PCT International Patent Publication Nos. WO 90/05525, 90/05729, 91/09844, 91/18899, 92/01688, 92/06079, 92/12151, 92/15585, 92/17449, 92/20661, 92/20676, 92/21677, 92/22569, 93/00330, 93/00331, 93/01159, 93/01165, 93/01169, 93/01170, 93/06099, 93/09116, 93/10073, 93/14084, 93/14113, 93/18023, 93/19064, 93/21155, 93/21181, 93/23380, 93/24465, 94/00440, 94/01402, 94/02461, 94/02595, 94/03429, 94/03445, 94/04494, 94/04496, 94/05625, 94/07843, 94/08997, 94/10165, 94/10167, 94/10168, 94/10170, 94/11368, 94/13639, 94/13663, 94/14767, 94/15903, 94/19320, 94/19323, 94/20500, 94/26735, 94/26740, 94/29309, 95/02595, 95/04040, 95/04042, 95/06645, 95/07886, 95/07908, 95/08549, 95/11880, 95/14017, 95/15311, 95/16679, 95/17382, 95/18124, 95/18129, 95/19344, 95/20575, 95/21819, 95/22525, 95/23798, 95/26338, 95/28418, 95/30674, 95/30687, 95/33744, 96/05181, 96/05193, 96/05203, 96/06094, 96/07649, 96/10562, 96/16939, 96/18643, 96/20197, 96/21661, 96/29304, 96/29317, 96/29326, 96/29328, 96/31214, 96/32385, 96/37489, 97/01553, 97/01554, 97/03066, 97/08144, 97/14671, 97/17362, 97/18206, 97/19084, 97/19942 and 97/21702; and in British Patent Publication Nos. 2 266 529, 2 268 931, 2 269 170, 2 269 590, 2 271 774, 2 292 144, 2 293 168, 2 293 169, and 2 302 689. The preparation of such compounds is fully described in the aforementioned patents and publications, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In an embodiment, the neuroknin-1 receptor antagonist for use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention is selected from: 2-(R)-(1-(R)-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethoxy)-3-(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(3-(5-oxo-1H,4H-1,2,4-triazolo)methyl)morpholine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,147.

A compound of the instant invention may also be administered with an agent useful in the treatment of anemia. Such an anemia treatment agent is, for example, a continuous eythropoiesis receptor activator (such as epoetin alfa).

A compound of the instant invention may also be administered with an agent useful in the treatment of neutropenia. Such a neutropenia treatment agent is, for example, a hematopoietic growth factor which regulates the production and function of neutrophils such as a human granulocyte colony stimulating factor, (G-CSF). Examples of a G-CSF include filgrastim.

A compound of the instant invention may also be administered with an immunologic-enhancing drug, such as levamisole, isoprinosine and Zadaxin.

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating or preventing cancer, including bone cancer, in combination with bisphosphonates (understood to include bisphosphonates, diphosphonates, bisphosphonic acids and diphosphonic acids). Examples of bisphosphonates include but are not limited to: etidronate (Didronel), pamidronate (Aredia), alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate

(Actonel), zoledronate (Zometa), ibandronate (Boniva), incadronate or cimadronate, clodronate, EB-1053, minodronate, neridronate, piridronate and tiludronate including any and all pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives, hydrates and mixtures thereof.

Thus, the scope of the instant invention encompasses the use of the instantly claimed compounds in combination with a second compound selected from: other HDAC inhibitors, an estrogen receptor modulator, an androgen receptor modulator, retinoid receptor modulator, a cytotoxic/cytostatic agent, an antiproliferative agent, a prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, an HIV protease inhibitor, a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, a PPAR-γ agonist, a PPAR-δ agonist, an anti-viral agent, an inhibitor of inherent multidrug resistance, an anti-emetic agent, an agent useful in the treatment of anemia, an agent useful in the treatment of neutropenia, an immunologic-enhancing drug, an inhibitor of cell proliferation and survival signaling, an agent that interferes with a cell cycle checkpoint, an apoptosis inducing agent and a bisphosphonate.

The term “administration” and variants thereof (e.g., “administering” a compound) in reference to a compound of the invention means introducing the compound or a prodrug of the compound into the system of the animal in need of treatment. When a compound of the invention or prodrug thereof is provided in combination with one or more other active agents (e.g., a cytotoxic agent, etc.), “administration” and its variants are each understood to include concurrent and sequential introduction of the compound or prodrug thereof and other agents.

As used herein, the term “composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” as used herein means that amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician.

The term “treating cancer” or “treatment of cancer” refers to administration to a mammal afflicted with a cancerous condition and refers to an effect that alleviates the cancerous condition by killing the cancerous cells, but also to an effect that results in the inhibition of growth and/or metastasis of the cancer.

In an embodiment, the angiogenesis inhibitor to be used as the second compound is selected from a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, an inhibitor of epidermal-derived growth factor, an inhibitor of fibroblast-derived growth factor, an inhibitor of platelet derived growth factor, an MMP (matrix metalloprotease) inhibitor, an integrin blocker, interferon-α, interleukin-12, pentosan polysulfate, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, carboxyamidotriazole, combretastatin A-4, squalamine, 6-O-chloroacetyl-carbonyl)-fumagillol, thalidomide, angiostatin, troponin-1, or an antibody to VEGF. In an embodiment, the estrogen receptor modulator is tamoxifen or raloxifene.

Also included in the scope of the claims is a method of treating cancer that comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I in combination with radiation therapy and/or in combination with a compound selected from: other HDAC inhibitors, an estrogen receptor modulator, an androgen receptor modulator, retinoid receptor modulator, a cytotoxic/cytostatic agent, an antiproliferative agent, a prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, an HIV protease inhibitor, a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, a PPAR-γ agonist, a PPAR-δ agonist, an anti-viral agent, an inhibitor of inherent multidrug resistance, an anti-emetic agent, an agent useful in the treatment of anemia, an agent useful in the treatment of neutropenia, an immunologic-enhancing drug, an inhibitor of cell proliferation and survival signaling, an agent that interfers with a cell cycle checkpoint, an apoptosis inducing agent and a bisphosphonate.

And yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of treating cancer that comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I in combination with paclitaxel or trastuzumab.

The invention further encompasses a method of treating or preventing cancer that comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I in combination with a COX-2 inhibitor.

The instant invention also includes a pharmaceutical composition useful for treating or preventing cancer that comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I and a compound selected from: other HDAC inhibitors, an estrogen receptor modulator, an androgen receptor modulator, a retinoid receptor modulator, a cytotoxic/cytostatic agent, an antiproliferative agent, a prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, an HIV protease inhibitor, a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, a PPAR-γ agonist, a PPAR-δ agonist, an anti-viral agent, an inhibitor of cell proliferation and survival signaling, an agent that interfers with a cell cycle checkpoint, an apoptosis inducing agent and a bisphosphonate.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the teachings contained herein.

Abbreviations Used in the Description of the Chemistry, Assays and in the Examples that Follow are:

DMF: dimethylformamide; DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide; MeOH: methanol; EtOAc: ethyl acetate; PE: petroleum ether, THF: tetrahydrofuran; DCM: dichloromethane; CHCl₃: chloroform; CD₃CD: acetronitrile-d₃; CDCl₃: chloroform-d; HCl: hydrogen chloride; min: minutes; h: hour(s); eq.: equivalent(s); M: molar; RT: room temperature; O/N: overnight; RP-HPLC: reversed phase high-pressure liquid chromatography; BuLi: butyllithium; LDA: lithium diisopropylamide; EDCl: 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride; HOBt: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole; TMSCF₃: trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane; and LiOH: lithium hydroxide. BSA (bovine serum albumin); DTT (dithiothreitol); EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid); em (emission); ex (exitation); Hepes ((N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine)-N′-(2-ethanesulfonic acid)); ILB (isotonic lysis buffer); EPTG (Isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside); NP40 (Nonidet P40); PBS (Phosphate buffered saline); PMSF (phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride); SEC (size exclusion chromatography); TBS (Tris buffered saline); Tris-HCl (Tris Hydroxymethylaminoethane); TSA (Trichostatin A); BEMP (2-tert-butylimino-2-diethylamino-1,3-dimethyl-perhydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphorine): BOP (benzotriazol-1-yloxytris(dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate); DIPEA (N,N′-diisopropylethylamine); and HBTU: O-benzotriazol-1-yl-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate.

Compounds of formula I may be prepared by reacting a compound of formula II with a compound of formula III:

wherein A, D, R¹, R², R³, W, X, a and b are as defined above and L¹ is a leaving group such as hydroxy when X is C and a leaving group such as halogen, particularly chlorine when X is SO. The reaction is generally carried out in the presence of coupling agents such as EDCl and HOBt and in a solvent such as DMF at about room temperature. Other favoured coupling agents are DIPEA and HBTU. When L¹ is hydroxy, it may first be deprotonated in the presence of a base such as BuLi. The reaction may alternatively be carried out with a polymer-supported reagent such as PS-carbodiimide, and polymer-supported scavengers such as MP-carbonate or PS-isocyanate, in a solvent such as DCM at about room temperature.

Compounds of formula II may be prepared by reacting a compound of formula IV:

wherein A and D are as defined above and R^(x) is a C₁₋₆alkyl group such as methyl or ethyl, with a base such as LiOH, generally in solvents such as MeOH and water, at about room temperature.

Compounds of formula II can alternatively be prepared by reacting a compound of formula V with a compound of formula VI:

wherein A and D are as defined above, R^(x) is independently an alkyl group such as methyl and R^(y) is hydrogen or a halogen such as bromine, generally in the presence of a base such as LDA or BuLi and in a solvent such as THF at a temperature of about −78° C.

Alternatively, compounds of formula I can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula VI with a compound of formula VII:

wherein A, D, R¹, R², R³, R^(y), X, W, a and b are as defined above, generally in the presence of a base such as LDA or BuLi and in a solvent such as THF at a temperature of about −78° C.

Compounds of formula VII can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula VIII with a compound of formula III:

wherein A, D and X are as defined above and L² is a leaving group such as halogen, particularly chlorine, generally in the presence of a base such as triethylamine in a solvent such as chloroform at about room temperature.

Alternatively, compounds of formula I can be prepared by oxidation of a compound of formula IX:

wherein A, D, R¹, R², R³, W, X, a and b are as defined above. For example, the oxidation is carried out in the presence of Dess-Martin periodinane in a solvent such as DCM at about room temperature

Compounds of formula IX can be prepared by reacting a compound of formula X with a reagent of formula III:

wherein A and D are as defined above and L³ is O—Li, generally using standard coupling methodology, such as using coupling agents like EDCl and HOBt, or HBTU and a base like DIPEA in a solvent such as DMF at about room temperature.

Compounds of formula X can be prepared from compounds of formula XI by halogen-lithium exchange using an organometallic reagent, such as BuLi:

wherein A and D are as defined above and R^(z) is a halogen such as bromine or iodine. The reaction is generally carried out in a solvent such as THF at about −78° C. to form an intermediate organometallic reagent. The carbonyl group can subsequently be added by quenching the formed organolithium intermediate with carbon dioxide.

Compounds of formula XI can be prepared by addition of a trifluoromethyl group to aldehydes of the formula XII:

-   -   wherein A, D and R^(z) are as defined above. The trifluoromethyl         group is introduced for instance using TMSCF₃ in the presence of         a catalytic fluoride source such as cesium fluoride in a solvent         such as DMFat about room temperature.

Where the synthesis of intermediates and starting materials is not described, these compounds are commercially available or can be made from commercially available compounds by standard methods or by extension of the Examples herein.

Compounds of formula I may be converted to other compounds of formula I by known methods or by methods described in the Examples.

During any of the synthetic sequences described herein it may be necessary and/or desirable to protect sensitive or reactive groups on any of the molecules concerned. This may be achieved by means of conventional protecting groups, such as those described in Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd Edition, Greene, T. W. and Wuts, P. G. M.; Wiley Interscience, 1999 and Kocienski, P. J. Protecting Groups, Thieme, 1994. The protecting groups may be removed at a convenient subsequent stage using methods known from the art.

The compounds of this invention were prepared according to the following schemes. All variables within the formulae are as defined above.

Scheme 1

-   2-Trifluoroacetylthiophene-5-carboxamides were prepared by amide     coupling of amines or sulfonamides with     2-trifluoroacetylthiophene-5-carboxylic acid. Suitable coupling     methods are those in the art as described in Tetrahedron Lett.     (1974):2695 for solution phase chemistry or Tetrahedron Lett.     (1993):7685 for the use of polymer-bound reagents and scavengers.     2-trifluoroacetylthiophene-5-carboxylic acid was synthesized by     ester hydrolysis of the alkyl ester with LiOH.

Scheme 2

-   Lithiation of 2-substituted thiophene using BuLi or LDA at −78° C.     as described in J. Med. Chem. (2001) 44:3203, followed by addition     of N-methyl-N-methoxytrifluoroacetamide led to     5-substituted-2-trifluoroacetylthiophene.

Scheme 3

-   Double deprotonation of 1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid with a base     such as BuLi as described in Tetrahedron Lett. (1978) 5, followed by     reaction with N-methyl -N-methoxytrifluoroacetamide led to     2-trifluoroacetyl-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid. The     2-trifluoroacetyl-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamides were synthesized by     amide coupling with primary and secondary amines as described in     Scheme 1.

Scheme 4

-   Treatment of 4-bromo-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylic acid with a base such     as BuLi as described in J. Org. Chem. (1988) 53:417, led to the     bromo-lithium exchange, subsequent reaction with     N-methyl-N-methoxytrifluoroacetamide led to     4-trifluoroacetyl-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylic acid. The     4-trifluoroacetyl-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxamides were synthesized by     amide coupling with primary and secondary amines as described in     Scheme 1.

Scheme 5

-   Reaction of 2-bromo-5-formylthiazole with CF₃TMS in the presence of     a F⁻ source such as CsF or nBu₄NF gave the trifluoroethyl alcohol as     described in J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 2873. Treatment of this     intermediate with 2 equivalents of a base as BuLi as described in J.     Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 417, led to the alcohol deprotonation and     bromo-lithium exchange, subsequent reaction with carbon anhydride     led to the carboxylate intermediate which was coupled with the     corresponding primary and secondary using the synthetic procedures     described in Scheme 1. Finally, oxidation of the alcohol with     Dess-Martin periodinane or MnO₂ as described in J. Org. Chem. 1983,     48,4155, led to 5-trifluoroacetyl-1,3-thiazole carboxamides.

The exemplified compounds described herein were tested by the assays described below and were found to have an IC₅₀ value of less than 10 μM.

Preparation of HDACs 4+6 and Corresponding Assays

HDAC 4 Expression and Affinity Purification

The His-tagged HDAC 4, wild-type catalytic domain, was expressed in E. coli strain BL21 Star™ (DE3). The cells were grown at 37° C. in minimum medium supplemented with 1 g/l (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ and 5 g/l glucose, and 100 μM of ZnCl₂ to an optical density of 0.8 at 600 nm and induced with IPTG for 16 hr at 23° C. At 23° C. more than 80% of the protein was soluble.

Bacterial pellets were resuspended in 25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 200 mM KCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20% glycerol 1 mM DTT and supplemented with Complete EDTA-free protease inhibitor. Subsequently bacterial pellets were lysed by microfluidizer, and centrifged at 15000 rpm for 30 min.

The soluble fraction was diluted 1:1 with 25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 200 mM KCl, 1 mM DTT and was loaded directly on H is Trap HP 5 ml (Amersham Biosciences). The protein was eluted at 200 mM Imidazole. The fractions with HDAC 4 were diluted 1:3 with 25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 5% glycerol, 0.1% of NP-40, 1 mM DTT. Then the solution was loaded on a Resource Q equilibrated with 25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 10% glycerol, 50 mM KCl, 0.1% of NP-40, 1 mM DTr. HDAC 4 was eluted with a salt gradient (0-250) mM of KCl. The product was fractionated by preparative SEC (G-75, Superdex 75 26/60 Amersham Biosciences) (25 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 150 mM KCl, 0.1% of β-octyl glucopiranoside, 1 mM DTT) to give the final product. Analytical SEC indicated that this product was monomeric. The protein was concentrated at ≈100 μM.

Flagged-HDAC 6 Expression and Affinity Purification

HEK 293 cells=6×10⁶ cells/10 cm dish were transfected with 15 μg of plasmid DNA using Lipofectamine reagent (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's recommendations. After 24 hr, scrape cells in pre-cooled 1×PBS, centrifuge at 1500×g for 5 min at 4° C., washed twice with 1×PBS, count cells, collect cell pellet by centrifugation and freeze at −80° C.

Resuspend cell pellet in 1 ml of hypotonic lysis buffer_(20 mM Hepes pH 7.9, 0.25 mM EDTA, 10% glycerol, 1 mM PMSF, Complete EDTA-free protease inhibitors cocktail from Boehringer) and incubated 15′ on ice. Homogenize in Douncer 2 (25 strokes, B pestle), add to the homogenate 150 mM KCl and 0.5% NP40 (isotonic lysis buffer: ILB). Sonicate twice for 30 sec (output 5/6, duty cycle 90, timer constant), then incubate 60 min on a rotating wheel at 4° C. Centrifuge at 12000 rpm in SS34 rotor for 30 min at 4° C. and collect supernatant (soluble extract). Determine total protein concentration (BioRad reagent) and load 4, 8 and 16 μg of total protein on a 4-12% SDS-PAGE minigel together with 8-16 ng of reference protein. Establish flagged-HDAC6 concentration in the sample by Western blot analysis using an anti-FLAG alkaline phosphatase-conjugated monoclonal antibody (M2-AP, A9469, SIGMA)

Wash the anti-FLAG M2 affinity gel matrix (A2220, SIGMA) 3 times with 1×TBS and twice with ILB, centrifuge each time at 10000 rpm for 30 sec in an Eppendorf microfuge. Incubate slurry at RT for a few minutes before use. Use 10 μl of gel matrix for each 2 μg of flagged-HDAC6 in the soluble extract, mix gel matrix and soluble extract and incubate O/N on a rotating wheel at 4° C. Recover gel matrix by centrifugation and wash it once with ILB, twice with ILB containing 0.1% NP-40, and a further 2 times in elution buffer [50 mM Hepes pH 7.4, 5% glycerol, 0.01% Triton X-100, 100 mM KCl. Elute protein by adding to the gel matrix 10 volumes of elution buffer containing 100 μg/ml of 3×FLAG peptide (F4799, SIGMA) and incubation for 60 min on a rotating wheel at RT; recover eluted protein by centrifugation. Estimate flagged-HDAC6 concentration in the sample by anti-FLAG Western blot analysis (dilute eluted protein 30 folds with SDS-PAGE loading buffer and load 3, 10 and 30 μl, in parallel use 4, 8 and 16 ng of reference protein for quantification). Prepare 50 μl aliquots and snap freeze in liquid N₂ before storage at −80° C.

HDAC 4 Assay

Working Reagents

-   TSA Stock: TSA is provided as a 10 mM solution in 100% DMSO. -   Assay buffer: 25 mM Tris/HCl pH8, 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 1 mM     MgCl₂, 0.1 mg/ml BSA Diluted substrate solution: tert-butyl     {(1S)-1-{[(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl)amino]carbonyl}-5-[(trifluoroacetyl)amino]pentyl}carbamate     is diluted to 200 μM with Tris 1 mM pH 7.4 prior to each use. The     final concentration in the assay is 20 μM. -   Diluted developer solution: The commercial 20× developer concentrate     (KI-105, BioMol Research Laboratories) is diluted 1:167 into Tris 1     mM pH7.4. 2 μM [final] TSA to this solution increases its ability to     stop the reaction. -   Enzyme working solution: Enzyme is diluted in 1.25× assay buffer     prior to each use from a fresh aliquot of enzyme. The final     concentration in the assay is 0.2 nM.     Experimental Design: -   The reaction is performed in 96-well microplate in a final volume of     50 μl/well. Add 5 μL of DMSO/compound solution, add 40 μl of HDAC 4     enzyme in assay buffer and incubate 10′ at RT. Start the reaction by     adding 5 μl of the 200 μM substrate solution and incubate 1 hr at     37° C. Stop the reaction by adding 50 μl of developer/4 μM TSA     solution and incubate 30 min at RT. Measure the fluorescence at     ex.360 nM and em.460 nM.     HDAC 6 Assay     Working Reagents: -   TSA stock: TSA is provided as a 10 mM stock solution in 100% DMSO. -   Assay buffer: 20 mM Hepes pH 7.5, 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 1 mM     MgCl₂, 0.1 mg/ml BSA -   Diluted substrate solution: The 50 mM Fluor-de-Lys™ substrate     (KI-104, BioMol Research Laboratories) is diluted to 150 μM with     HDAC assay buffer prior to each use. The final concentration in the     assay is 30 μM. -   Diluted developer solution: The commercial 20× developer concentrate     (KI-105, BioMol Research Laboratories) is diluted 1:167 into HDAC     assay buffer. 2 μM [final] TSA to this solution increases its     ability to stop the reaction. -   HDAC 6 working solution: The HDAC 6 enzyme is diluted in assay     buffer prior to each use from a fresh aliquot of enzyme. The final     concentration in the assay is 1-2 nM.     Experimental Design: -   The reaction is performed in 96-well microplate in a final volume of     50 μl/well. Add 5 μl of DMSO/compound solution and then 35 μl of     HDAC 6 enzyme in assay buffer (or 35 μl assay buffer in the negative     controls) and incubate 10′ at RT. Start the reaction by adding 101     of the 150 μM substrate solution and incubate for 1 hr at 37° C.     Stop the reaction by adding 50 μl of developer/4 μM TSA solution and     incubate 30 min at RT. Measure the fluorescence at ex.360 nM and     em.460 nM.

The HDAC activity of the compounds described in this specification can also be tested according to the assays described on pages 104 to 106 of WO 2006/061638.

Other assays are known in the literature and can be readily performed by those skilled in the art.

The following Examples illustrate the present invention.

-   RP-HPLC Conditions: Waters X-TERRA MS C18, 5 micron, 19×100 mm;     flow: 20 mL/min; Gradient: A: H₂O+0.1% TFA; B: MeCN+0.1% TFA; 80% A     isocratic for 1 min, linear to 20% A in 9 min, linear to 10% A in     0.2 min, 10% A isocratic for 1.6 min. -   LC-MS Conditions: Waters X-TERRA MS C18, 5 micron, 4.6×50 mm; flow:     I mL/min; Gradient: A: H₂O+0.1% TFA; B: MeCN+0.1% TFA; linear from     90% to 10% A in 7.5 min. -   RP-HPLC (Conditions 2): Waters SYMMETRY C18, 7 micron, 19×300 mm;     flow: 20 mL/min; Gradient A: H₂O+0.1% TFA; B: MeCN+0.1% TFA; 60% A     linear to 10% A in 14 min. -   LC-MS (Conditions 2): Waters X-TERRA MS C18, 5 micron, 4.6×50 mm;     flow: 1 mL/min; Gradient: A: H₂O+0.1% HCO₂H; B: MeCN+0.1% HCO₂H;     linear from 90% to 0% A in 5 min. -   UPLC-MS: Waters Acquity UPLC™ BEH C₁₈, 1.7 micron, 2.1×50 mm; flow     0.5 mL/min; Gradient A: H₂O+0.1% HCO₂H; B: MeCN+0.1% HCO₂H, 0.10 min     90% A, linear from 90% to 0% A in 2.5 min, 0.3 min 0% A.

EXAMPLE 1 N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide Step 1: 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic Acid

-   A solution (0.1 M) of ethyl 5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2     carboxylate (from Rieke Metals) in MeOH/water (1:1) was treated with     LiOH (2.0 eq.). The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 64 h. 6N     HCl was added dropwise to the reaction mixture until pH 2, then MeOH     was evaporated under vacuum. The aqueous phase was extracted with     EtOAc several times. The combined organic layers were washed with     brine, dried and concentrated to yield (95%) the title compound as a     solid.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 300 K) δ 13.38 (bs, 1H), 8.11 (bs, 1H), 7.85 (d, J=4.2 Hz, 1H); MS (ES⁺) C₇H₃F₃O₃S requires: 224, found: 225 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide

-   The product from step 1 was added to a solution (0.5 M) of HOBt (1.5     eq.) and EDCI (1.5 eq.) in DMF and stirring was continued for 1 h.     Then, (4-methoxybenzyl)amine (1.5 eq.) was added and the reaction     mixture was stirred at RT for 16 h. The crude was purified by     RP-HPLC to yield (7%) the title compound as a solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 300 K) δ 9.45 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (bs, 1H), 7.96 (d, J=4.3 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 6.90 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 4.41 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 3.73 (s, 3H); MS (ES⁺) C₁₅H₁₂F₃NO₃S requires: 343, found: 344 (M+H)⁺.

EXAMPLE 2 N-methyl-N-(quinolin-7-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide

-   The product from Example 1, step 1, was added to a suspension of     PS-carbodiimide (7.0 mL/g resin, 4.0 eq.) in DCM. The reaction     mixture was stirred at RT for 30 min, then     N-methyl-1-quinolin-7-ylmethanamine (1.5 eq.) was added and the     stirring was continued at RT O/N. Then MP-carbonate (4.0 eq.) and     PS-isocyanate (4.0 eq.) were added and the mixture was stirred at RT     O/N, then filtered and the solvent was evaporated to yield (30%) the     title compound as a solid. LC-MS (ES⁺) C₁₈H₁₃F₃N₂O₂S requires: 378,     found: 379 (M+H)⁺. Retention time: 2.93 min.

The examples in Table 1 were made according to the processes described in the previous Examples.

TABLE 1 5-(trifluoroacethyl)thiophene-2-carboxamides Molecular Procedure Ion of Example Name [M + H]⁺ Example 3 N-ethyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 252 1 carboxamide 4 N-(2-phenylethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 328 1 carboxamide 5 N-benzyl-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 328 1 2-carboxamide 6 N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-5- 295 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 7 N-[(1S)-1-phenylethyl]-5- 328 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 8 N-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-5- 328 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 9 2-thiophenecarboxamide, N-(phenylmethyl)-5- 314 1 (trifluoroacetyl)- 10 N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 348, 350 1 2-carboxamide 11 N-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 328 1 2-carboxamide 12 N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-5- 364 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 13 N-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-5- 315 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 14 N-phenyl-5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 300 1 carboxamide 15 N-(biphenyl-3-ylmethyl)-5- 390 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 16 N-(cyclohexylmethyl)-5- 320 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 17 N-methyl-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-5- 378 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 18 1-[5-(1,3-dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-ylcarbonyl)-2- 326 1 thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 19 N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-5- 344 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 20 N-(3-methoxybenzyl)-5- 344 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 21 N-(2-chlorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 348, 350 1 2-carboxamide 22 N-(3-chlorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 348, 350 1 2-carboxamide 23 N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 332 1 carboxamide 24 N-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-5- 382 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 25 N-(4-trifluoromethoxybenzyl)-5- 398 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 26 N-[4-(methylsulfonyl)benzyl]-5- 392 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 27 N-(biphenyl-4-ylmethyl)-5- 390 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 28 N-[4-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl)benzyl]-5- 398 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 29 N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)-5- 404 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 30 N-(diphenylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 390 1 2-carboxamide 31 N,N-dibenzyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 404 1 carboxamide 32 N-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5- 358 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 33 N-[(4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)methyl]-5- 397 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 34 N-[(1R)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl]-5- 340 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 35 N-[2-(2-naphthyl)ethyl]-5- 378 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 36 N-[2-(3,4-dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)ethyl]-5- 383 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 37 N-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-5- 368 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 38 N-(1-phenylpiperidin-4-yl)-5- 383 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 39 N-[4-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)benzyl]-5- 380 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 40 N-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5- 382, 384, 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 386 41 N-[2-(4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)ethyl]-5- 411 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 42 N-methyl-N-(quinolin-6-ylmethyl)-5- 379 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 43 N-(quinolin-5-ylmethyl)-5- 365 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 44 N-methyl-N-(1,3-thiazol-2-ylmethyl)-5- 335 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 45 N-[2-(2-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-5- 457 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 46 N-methyl-N-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2- 332 2 yl)methyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 47 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(3-pyridin-3-yl-1,2,4- 437 2 oxadiazol-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2- thienyl)ethanone 48 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4- 436 2 oxadiazol-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2- thienyl)ethanone 49 1-(5-{[4-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)piperazin-1- 410 2 yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 50 1-(5-{[4-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)piperazin-1- 426 2 yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 51 N-(4-cyclohexyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-5- 389 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 52 N-[(2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)methyl]- 368 2 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 53 N-[4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-5- 417, 419 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 54 N-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-5- 334 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 55 N-(1,3-oxazol-2-ylmethyl)-5- 305 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 56 N-[2-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]-5- 378 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 57 tert-butyl (6-{4-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 529 1 thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]phenoxy}hexyl)carbamate 58 N-[(5-phenylisoxazol-3-yl)methyl]-5- 381 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 59 N-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-5- 392 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 60 N-(3-furylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 304 1 carboxamide 61 N-(4-phenylcyclohexyl)-5- 382 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 62 N-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylmethyl)-N-methyl-5- 385 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 63 N-[4-(aminosulfonyl)benzyl]-5- 393 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 64 N-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)-5- 350 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 65 N-(biphenyl-2-ylmethyl)-5- 390 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 66 1-[5-(2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-1-ylcarbonyl)-2- 326 1 thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 67 1-{5-[(4-benzoylpiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2- 396 1 thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 68 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[5-(1′H,3H-spiro[2-benzofuran- 396 1 1,4′-piperidin]-1′-ylcarbonyl)-2-thienyl]ethanone 69 N-methyl-N-(quinoxalin-6-ylmethyl)-5- 380 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 70 N-{[5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3- 362 1 yl]methyl}-N-methyl-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 71 N-[(5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methyl]-5- 381 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 72 N-(isoxazol-4-ylmethyl)-5- 305 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 73 N-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-5-ylmethyl)-N-methyl- 386 1 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 74 N-pyridin-3-yl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 301 1 carboxamide 75 N-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-thienyl]-5- 412 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 76 N-2-naphthyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 350 1 carboxamide 77 N-[3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenyl]-5- 365 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 78 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[2- 400 1 (phenoxymethyl)morpholin-4-yl]carbonyl}-2- thienyl)ethanone 79 1-(5-{[4-(6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin- 483 1 2(1H)-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)- 483 1 2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 80 N-(4-phenoxybenzyl)-5- 406 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 81 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-{5-[(4-isoquinolin-3-ylpiperazin- 420 1 1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone 82 N-methyl-N-[(3-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)methyl]-5- 395 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 83 N-(4-morpholin-4-ylphenyl)-5- 385 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 84 N-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl-5- 357 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 85 N-(5-chloro-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-5- 375, 377 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 86 N-9H-fluoren-2-yl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 388 1 carboxamide 87 1-(5-{[4-(1,2-benzisothiazol-3-yl)piperidin-1- 425 1 yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 88 N-cyclopentyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 292 1 carboxamide 89 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[5-({4-[2-(4- 410 2 methylphenyl)ethyl]piperidin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2- thienyl]ethanone 90 N-[(1-piperidin-1-ylcyclohexyl)methyl]-5- 403 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 91 N-[(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl]-5- 318 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 92 N-[(1-morpholin-4-ylcyclohexyl)methyl]-5- 405 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 93 1-[5-({3-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]pyrrolidin-1- 397 2 yl}carbonyl)-2-thienyl]-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 94 N-[(1R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]-5- 378 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 95 N-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-5- 397, 399, 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 401 96 N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-5- 278 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 97 N-[(1R)-1-cyclohexylethyl]-5- 334 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 98 N-(tetrahydrofuran-2-ylmethyl)-5- 308 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 99 N-(3-morpholin-4-ylpropyl)-5- 351 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 100 N-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 282 2 2-carboxamide 101 N-(1-adamantylmethyl)-5- 372 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 102 1-{5-[(4-benzylpiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2- 382 2 thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 103 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-{5-[(4-pyridin-2-ylpiperazin-1- 370 2 yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone 104 N-methyl-N-[(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl]- 394 2 5-(fluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 105 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-{5-[(4-{3-[4- 504 2 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5- yl}piperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone 106 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[5-({4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4- 445 2 thiadiazol-2-yl]piperazin-1-yl}carbonyl)-2- thienyl]ethanone 107 N-[1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]-5- 378 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 108 N-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-ylmethyl)-5- 372 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 109 N-(6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-5- 382 2 ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 110 N-{[2-(2-thienyl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]methyl}-5- 403 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 111 1-{5-[(4,4-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]-2- 328 2 thienyl}-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 112 N-[2-(1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl)ethyl]-5- 369 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 113 N-[2-(4-phenoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5- 420 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 114 N-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl}-5- 374 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 115 N-(2,6-dimethoxybenzyl)-5- 374 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 116 N-[(1R)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5- 358 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 117 N-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-5- 358 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 118 N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-N-methyl-5- 358 2 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 119 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-{5-[(3-phenyl-5,6- 406 1 dihydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazin-7(8H)- yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}ethanone 120 N-(benzylsulfonyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- 378 1 carboxamide 121 N-[(dimethylamino)sulfonyl]-5- 331 1 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 122 N-(4-{[6-({5-[(3aR,4R,6aS)-2-oxohexahydro-1H- 655 1 thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4- yl]pentanoyl}amino)hexyl]oxy}benzyl)-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide

EXAMPLE 123 N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide Step 1: 4-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic Acid

-   To a solution (0.2 M) of 4-bromothiophene-2-carboxylic acid (from     Maybridge) in dry THF at −78° C., BuLi (1.6 N solution in hexane,     3.0 eq.) was added dropwise and the resulting solution was stirred     at −78° C. for 15 min. A solution (1 M) of     N-methyl-N-methoxytrifluoroacetamide (1.5 eq.) in dry THF was added     dropwise at −78° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h at     −78° C. and then allowed to reach RT O/N. The reaction mixture was     quenched by adding NH₄Cl solution, and extracted with EtOAc. The     combined organic layer was washed with brine, dried and concentrated     to yield the title compound as a oil. LC-MS (ES⁺) C₇H₃F₃O₃S     requires: 224, found: 225 (M+H)⁺. Retention time: 2.80 min.

Step 2: N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide

-   The product from step 1 was dissolved in DMF and the resulting     solution (0.5 M) was treated with HOBt (1.5 eq.) and EDCI (1.5 eq.).     The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 20 min. Then     (4-methoxybenzyl)amine (1.5 eq.) was added and the stirring was     continued at RT O/N. The crude solution was purified by RP-HPLC to     yield (23% over two steps) the title compound as a solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO d₆,300 K) δ 9.33 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 1H), 8.93 (s, 1H), 8.38 (s, 1H), 7.25 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.90 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 4.39 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 2H),3.73 (s, 3H). MS ES⁺) C₁₅H₁₂F₃NO₃S requires: 343, found: 344 (M+H)⁺.

The Examples in Table 2 were made according to the process described in Example 123:

TABLE 2 4-(trifluoroacethyl)thiophene-2-carboxamides Molecular Ion Example Name [M + H]⁺ 124 N-benzyl-N-methyl-4- 328 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide 125 N-(cyclohexylmethyl)-4- 320 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide

EXAMPLE 126 N-benzyl-N-methyl-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-sulfonamide

-   To a stirred solution (0.05 M) of thiophene-2-sulfonyl chloride     (from Lancaster) in CHCl₃, Et₃N (4.0 eq.) was added followed by the     addition of N-benzylmethylamine (2.0 eq.) at 0° C. The reaction     mixture was stirred O/N at RT and then quenched by adding NH₄Cl     solution. The organic phase was separated and washed with 1N HCl,     brine and dried. Evaporation of the solvent gave a residue (LC-MS     (ES⁺) C₁₂H₁₃NO₂S₂ requires: 267, found: 268 (M+H)⁺. Retention time:     5.49 min) that was dissolved in dry THF. The resulting solution     (0.2 M) was added dropwise at −78° C. to a stirred solution (0.1 M)     of LDA (2 N solution in THF/heptane/ethylbenzene, 1.5 eq.) in dry     THF and stirred at −78° C. for 45 min. A solution (1 M) of     N-methyl-N-methoxytrifluoroacetamide (1.2 eq.) in dry THF was added     and the reaction allowed to warm to 0° C. and maintained at this     temperature for 1 h. The reaction mixture was quenched by adding     NH₄Cl solution, and then extracted with DCM. The combined organic     layer was washed with 1N HCl, brine and dried. Evaporation of the     solvent gave the crude product which was purified by RP-HPLC to     yield (52%) the title compound as a solid.

¹H-NMR (600 MHz, DMSO-d₆,300 K) δ 8.19 (bs, 1H), 7.92 (d, J=4.2 Hz, 1H), 7.40-7.30 (m, 5H), 4.28 (s, 2H), 2.70 (s, 3H); MS (ES⁺) C₁₄H₁₄F₃NO₃S₂ requires: 363, found: 364 (M+H)⁺.

The Example in Table 3 was made according to the process described in Example 126.

TABLE 3 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-sulfonamides Molecular Ion Example Name [M + H]⁺ 127 N-(cyclohexylmethyl)-5- 356 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-sulfonamide

EXAMPLE 128 N-benzyl-N-methyl-2-(trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide

To a solution (0.2 M) of 1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid (from Combi-blocks) in dry THF a solution of BuLi (1.6 M solution in hexane, 2.2 eq.) was added dropwise at −78° C. and stirred at −78° C. for 45 min. A solution (1 M) of N-methyl-N-methoxytrifluoroacetamide (1.5 eq.) in dry THF was added at −78° C. to the reaction mixture and stirred for 1 h at −60° C. The reaction mixture was quenched by adding NH₄Cl solution, then extracted with DCM. The combined organic layer was washed with brine and dried. Evaporation of the solvent gave a residue (LC-MS (ES⁺) C₆H₂F₃NO₃S requires: 225, found: 226 (M+H)⁺. Retention time: 2.26 min) that was dissolved in DMF. To the resulting solution (0.5 M), HOBt (1.5 eq.) and EDCI (1.5 eq.) were added and stirring was continued for 1 h. N-benzylmethylamine (1.5 eq.) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at RT O/N. The crude was purified by RP-HPLC to yield (3%) the title compound as a solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 300 K) δ 8.43 (bs, 1H), 7.40-7.20 (m, 5H), 4.70 (s, 2H), 3.15 (bs, 3H); MS (ES⁺) C₁₄H₁₁F₃N₂O₂S requires: 328, found: 329 (M+H)⁺.

The compound in Table 4 was made according to the process described in Example 128.

TABLE 4 2-(trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide Molecular Ion Example Name [M + H]⁺ 129 N-(cyclohexylmethyl)-2-(trifluoroacetyl}- 321 1,3-thiazole-5-carboxamide The following salts were made from previous Examples using standard acidification techniques:

EXAMPLE 130 N,N-Dimethyl-2-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethanaminium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 131 3-[({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 132 1-[2-({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 133 1-Phenyl-4-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)piperidinium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 134 4-{4-[({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]phenyl}-1H-imidazol-1-ium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 135 5-[({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-7,8-dihydroquinolinium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 136 3-({[5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)pyridinium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 137 6,7-Dimethoxy-2-(1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-4-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium Trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 138 1-Isoquinolin-3-yl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium trifluoroacetate Example 139 4-[4-({[5-Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)phenyl]morpholin-4-ium Trifluoroacetate Example 140 1-{1-[({[5-Trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]cyclohexyl}piperidinium Trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 141 1-Pyridin-2-yl-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1-ium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 142 2-(2-Thienyl-4-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 143 3-Phenyl-7-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}-5,6,7,8-tethahydroimidazo[1,2-A]pyrazin-4-ium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 144 N-Methyl(phenyl)-N-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]methyl}methanaminium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 145 (1R)-1-Phenyl-N-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]methyl}ethanaminium trifluoroacetate EXAMPLE 146 Cyclohexyl-N-{[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]methyl}methanaminium trifluoroacetate

The following examples further illustrate the present invention.

EXAMPLE 147 2-phenyl-5-[1-({[5-trifluoroacetyl)-2-thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]-1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate

A solution (0.11 M) of product from Example 1 step 1, HOBt (1.5 eq.) and DIPEA (1 eq.) in DCM/DMF (9:1) was added to a suspension of PS-carbodiimide (2.5 eq.) in DCM. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 1 h, then a solution (0.4 M) of 1-(2-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)ethanamine (1.5 eq.) and DIPEA (3 eq.) in DMF was added and the stirring was continued at RT for 24 h. Then, the reaction mixture was filtered and the solvent was evaporated to give the crude product which was purified by RP-HPLC to yield (56%) the title compound.

-   LC-MS (ES⁺) C₁₈H₁₃F₃N₂O₂S₂ requires: 410, found: 411 (M+H)⁺.     Retention time: 4.1 min (LC-MS conditions 2).

EXAMPLE 148 N-{[4-(acetylamino)phenyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide Step 1: N-[4-aminosulfonyl)phenyl]acetamide

-   NH₃ (g) was bubbled for 10 min through a stirred solution (0.1 M) of     4-acetylamino)benzenesulfonyl chloride in dry DCM at RT. After     addition of water, the reaction mixture was stirred for 5 min. The     reaction mixture was passed through an Isolute® HM-N cartridge, and     then washed several times with EtOAc. Evaporation of the organic     solution yielded (99%) the title product as a solid. HPLC-MS (ES⁺)     C₈H₁₀N₂O₃S requires: 214, found: 215 (M+H)⁺. Retention time: 0.53     min.

Step 2: N-{[4-(acetylamino)phenyl]sulfonyl}-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide

-   A solution (0.1 M) of the product from Example 1, step 1, in DCM,     was treated with BOP (1.3 eq.). The reaction mixture was stirred at     RT for 5 min. Then, N-[4-(aminosulfonyl)phenyl]acetamide (from     step 1) (1.3 eq.) and BEMP (3 eq.) were added and the reaction     mixture was stirred at RT O/N, then evaporation of the solvent gave     the crude product which was purified by RP-HPLC to yield (63%) the     title compound as a solid.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d₆, 300 K) δ 10.38 (bs, 1H), 8.10 (bs, 1H), 7.95 (d, J=4 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (dd, J=6.0, 2.0 Hz, 2H), 7.79 (dd, J=6.0, 2.0 Hz, 2H), 7.21 (d, J=4 Hz, 1H), 2.09 (s, 3H); MS (ES⁺) C₁₅H₁₁F₃N₂O₅S₂ requires: 420, found: 421 (M+H)⁺.

EXAMPLE 149 N-methyl-N-(quinoxalin-6-ylmethyl)-5-trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxamide Step 1: 1-(2-Bromo-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

-   A solution (0.52 M) of 2-bromo-5-formylthiazole and CsF (0.2 eq.) in     DME was treated with TMSCF₃ (2.0 eq.) and the resulting solution was     stirred at RT for 2 h. Then, the reaction mixture was quenched with     water and stirred at RT for 15 min. The aqueous solution was     extracted with EtOAc several times and the combined organic layers     were dried and concentrated to give a residue that was purified by     flash chromatography on silica gel (petroleum ether/EtOAc 20:1 to     3:1) to yield (48%) the title compound as a yellow solid.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃, 300K) δ 4.04 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 1H), 5.32 (m, 1H), 7.59 (s, 1H); MS (ES⁺) C₅H₃BrF₃NOS requires: 261, 263, found: 262, 264 (M+H)⁺.

Step 2: Dilithium 5-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-oxidoethyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylate

-   To a solution (0.25 M) of the product from step 1 in THF at −78° C.,     BuLi (2.2 eq.) was added dropwise and the resulting solution was     stirred at −78° C. for 30 min. Then, CO₂ (g) was bubbled through the     reaction mixture for 10 min and the reaction mixture was stirred at     −78° C. for one hour. Evaporation of the solvent yielded the title     compound as a white solid. -   LC-MS (ES⁺) C₆H₄F₃NO₃S requires: 227, found: 228 (M+H)⁺. Retention     time: 1.80 min (LC-MS conditions 2).

Step 3: N-methyl-N-(quinoxalin-6-ylmethyl)-5-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxamide

-   The product from step 2 was dissolved in DMF and the resulting     solution was treated with N-methyl(quinoxalin-6-yl)methanaminium     chloride (3.0 eq.), DIPEA (4.0 eq.) and HBTU (3.0 eq.). The reaction     mixture was stirred at RT for 12 h. After dilution with EtOAc, the     organic phase was washed with aqueous NaHCO₃ (saturated solution),     1N HCl, brine, dried and concentrated to yield the title compound as     a solid. -   LC-MS (ES⁺) C₁₆H₁₃F₃N₄O₂S requires: 382, found: 383 (M+H)⁺.     Retention time: 2.89 min (LC-MS conditions 2).

Step 4: N-methyl-N-(quinoxalin-6-ylmethyl)-5-(trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxamide

-   A solution (0.1 M) of the product from step 3 in DCM at RT was     treated with Dess-Martin periodinane (1.5 eq.). The reaction mixture     was stirred at RT for 2 h and then quenched by pouring into aqueous     NaHCO₃ (saturated solution) containing 7 fold excess of Na₂S₂O₃.     After stirring for 30 min the layers were separated and the organic     phase was washed with brine and dried. Evaporation of the solvent     gave a crude that was purified by RP-HPLC (conditions 2) to yield     (21% over three steps) the title compound as a solid.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO d₆, 300K) δ 3.03 and 3.51 (s, 3H), 4.97 and 5.58 (s, 2H), 7.81 (m, 1H), 7.93 (s, 1H), 8.00 (m, 1H), 8.09 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.93 (s, 2H). LC-MS (ES⁺) C₁₆H₁₁F₃N₄O₂S requires: 380, found: 381 (M+H)⁺. Retention time: 2.69 min (LC-MS conditions 2).

The Examples in Table 5 were made according to the process described in Example 147.

TABLE 5 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-carboxamides Molecular Molecular Molecular Ion Ion Ion Example Name M. Wt. (M + H)⁺ (M + H)⁺ + 18 (M + e⁻) 150 2-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4- 396.435 397 415 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl} piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 151 1-{5-[(4-acetylpiperazin-1- 334.319 335 353 — yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2- trifluoroethanone 152 methyl 1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 349.331 350 368 — thienyl]carbonyl}piperidine-4- carboxylate 153 1-[(4- 492.951 — 511, 513 — chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl]- 4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 154 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4- 390.384 391 409 — (tetrahydrofuran-2- ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone 155 1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4-{[5- 378.373 379 397 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 156 1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-{[5- 398.407 399 417 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 157 4-phenyl-1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 392.403 393 411 — 2-thienyl]carbonyl}piperidine-4- carbonitrile 158 1-(4-phenyl-1-{[5- 423.458 424 442 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-4- yl)propan-1-one 159 1-methyl-4-[2-(methyl{[5- 439.504 440 458 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)-2- phenylethyl]piperazinediium bis(trifluoroacetate) 160 1-[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]-4- 398.426 399 417 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 161 1-(3,5-dichloropyridinium-4-yl)- 438.258 438, 440 456, 459 — 4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium bis(trifluoroacetate) 162 1-(5-{[4-(1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol- 408.405 409 427 — 1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2- thienyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 163 1-[(3-methylpyridinium-2- 397.422 — 416 — yl)methyl]-4-{[5- (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium bis(trifluoroacetate) 164 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-{5-[(3- 367.393 368 386 — phenylpiperidin-1-yl)carbonyl]- 2-thienyl}ethanone 165 1-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen- 422.473 423 441 — 2-yl)-4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 166 4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 306.265 307 325 305 thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-2- one 167 1-(1-adamantyl)-4-{[5- 426.505 427 445 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 168 1,2-dimethyl-4-{[5- 320.336 — 339 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 169 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4- 404.411 405 423 — (morpholin-4- ylcarbonyl)piperidin-1- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone 170 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4- 388.412 389 407 — (pyrrolidin-1- ylcarbonyl)piperidin-1- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone 171 1-(3-chlorobenzyl)-4-{[5- 416.853 417, 419 435, 437 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 172 5-fluoro-2-(1-{[5- 425.408 426 444 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-4- yl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 173 1-methyl-2-[(1-{[5- 399.395 400 418 398 (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3- yl)carbonyl]-1H-imidazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 174 6-methyl-2-(1-{[5- 421.445 422 440 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-3- yl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 175 1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-4-{[5- 414.381 415 433 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-2- one 176 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(1H- 387.343 388 406 — 1,2,4-triazol-3- ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone 177 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-{[5- 437.271 437, 439 455, 457 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 178 (3R,4aS,8aS)—N-(tert-butyl)-2- 444.520 — 463 443 {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}decahydroisoquinoline- 3-carboxamide 179 (1R,4R)-2-benzyl-5-{[5- 394.419 — 413 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 180 1-(5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)- 432.852 433, 435 451, 453 — 4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 181 4-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 393.390 394 412 — thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- yl)benzonitrile 182 1-{5-[(4-bromopiperidin-1- 370.190 370, 372 388, 390 — yl)carbonyl]-2-thienyl}-2,2,2- trifluoroethanone 183 (4aR,8aR)-1-{[5- 359.370 360 378 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}octahydroquinolin- 4(1H)-one 184 1-(1-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 423.417 424 442 422 thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-4- yl)-1,3-dihydro-2H- benzimidazol-2-one 185 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-4-{[5- 402.826 — 421 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 186 1-(2-ethoxyphenyl)-4-{[5- 412.434 413 431 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 187 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-{[5- 398.407 399 417 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 188 1-(2-methylphenyl)-4-{[5- 382.408 383 401 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 189 1-(4-phenyl-1-{[5- 437.485 438 456 436 (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperidin-4- yl)butan-1-one 190 N-(tetrahydrofuran-3-ylmethyl)- 307.294 308 326 — 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 191 N,N-dimethyl-2-({[5- 308.324 — 327 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)propan- 1-aminium trifluoroacetate 192 tert-butyl 3-[({[5- 452.456 — 471 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 1H-indole-1-carboxylate 193 N-[3-oxo-3- 536.578 — 555 — (tritylamino)propyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 194 N-[2-oxo-2-(tritylamino)ethyl]- 522.550 — 541 — 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 195 N-[5-oxo-5-(tritylamino)pentyl]- 564.632 — 583 — 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 196 4-phenyl-2-[({[5- 398.407 399 417 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]morpholin- 4-ium trifluoroacetate 197 1-phenyl-9-({[5- 449.499 450 468 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)-3,6- diazoniatricyclo[4.3.1.1^(3,8)]undecane bis(trifluoroacetate) 198 4-benzyl-2-[({[5- 412.434 413 431 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]morpholin- 4-ium trifluoroacetate 199 4-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 328.315 329 347 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 200 3-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 328.315 329 347 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 201 11-oxo-10-[2-({[5- 459.450 460 478 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 10,11-dihydro-5H- dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-5-ium trifluoroacetate 202 N-[2-(1,4-dioxo-3,4- 411.362 — 430 — dihydrophthalazin-2(1H)- yl)ethyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 203 2-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 328.315 329 347 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 204 3-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 353.325 354 372 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]pyrazolo[1, 5-a]pyridin-1-ium trifluoroacetate 205 2-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-({[5- 382.287 383 401 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 206 3-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 364.349 365 383 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]quinolinium trifluoroacetate 207 N-(2-fluoroprop-2-en-1-yl)-5- 281.230 282 300 — (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 208 7-[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 353.325 354 372 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]pyrazolo[1, 5-a]pyridin-1-ium trifluoroacetate 209 1-(5-{[(1S,4S)-5-(3- 414.837 415, 417 433, 435 — chlorophenyl)-2,5- diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2- trifluoroethanone 210 1-(5-{[(1S,4S)-5-(2- 414.837 415, 417 433, 435 — chlorophenyl)-2,5- diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2- trifluoroethanone 211 1-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4-{[5- 412.434 413 — — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 212 1-(3-methoxybenzyl)-4-{[5- 412.434 413 431 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 213 4-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 420.416 421 439 — thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- yl)quinazolin-3-ium trifluoroacetate 214 3-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 369.368 370 388 — thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- yl)pyridinium trifluoroacetate 215 1-cyclohexyl-4-{[5- 388.412 389 407 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-2- one 216 1-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4- 403.448 404 422 — yl)methyl]-4-{[5- (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 217 1-cyclopropyl-4-{[5- 332.347 — 351 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 218 (3S)-1-methyl-3-phenyl-4-{[5- 382.408 — 401 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 219 7-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 397.301 398 416 — thienyl]carbonyl}-2- (trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8- tetrahydroimidazo[1,2- a]pyrazin-1-ium trifluoroacetate 220 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(4- 374.344 375 393 — methyl-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3- yl)piperazin-1-yl]carbonyl}-2- thienyl)ethanone 221 1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-4-{[5- 383.395 384 402 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 222 1-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-4-{[5- 383.395 384 402 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 223 1-methyl-2-phenyl-4-{[5- 382.408 — 401 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 224 1-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2- 444.436 445 463 — yl)methyl]-4-{[5- (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 225 1-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2- 520.535 521 539 519 yl)(phenyl)methyl]-4-{[5- (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 226 (1S,4S)-2-methyl-5-{[5- 318.320 — 337 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 227 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[(1S,4S)-5- 398.382 399 417 — (4-fluorophenyl)-2,5- diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone 228 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(5-{[4-(1H- 435.428 — 454 434 indol-6-ylcarbonyl)piperazin-1- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)ethanone 229 1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)- 408.446 409 427 — 4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 230 1-(1,2-benzisothiazol-3-yl)-4- 425.454 426 444 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 231 (1S,4S)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5- 414.837 415 433 413 {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 232 1-[5-({4-[3,5- 504.377 505 523 — bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazin- 1-yl}carbonyl)-2-thienyl]- 2,2,2-trifluoroethanone 233 1-(4-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 419.429 420 438 — thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- yl)isoquinolinium trifluoroacetate 234 1-(5-{[4-(2,3-dihydro-1,4- 426.418 427 445 — benzodioxin-5-yl)piperazin-1- yl]carbonyl}-2-thienyl)-2,2,2- trifluoroethanone 235 1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-{[5- 428.434 429 447 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 236 (1S,4S)-2-(2-methoxybenzyl)-5- 424.445 — 443 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 237 (1S,4S)-2-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5- 424.445 — 443 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 238 (1S,4S)-2-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5- 428.864 — 447 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 239 2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 332.347 333 351 — thienyl]carbonyl}octahydropyrrolo[1, 2-a]pyrazin-5-ium trifluoroacetate 240 2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 346.374 347 365 — thienyl]carbonyl}octahydro-2H- pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazin-5-ium trifluoroacetate 241 2-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 360.401 361 379 — thienyl]carbonyl}decahydropyrazino[1, 2-a]azepin-5-ium trifluoroacetate 242 3-benzyl-1-phenyl-4-{[5- 458.506 459 477 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 243 4-methoxy-2-(4-{[5- 399.395 400 418 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- yl)pyridinium trifluoroacetate 244 7-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 330.290 331 349 — thienyl]carbonyl}-5,6,7,8- tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyrazin-2-ium trifluoroacetate 245 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-4-{[5- 412.391 413 431 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}piperazin-1- ium trifluoroacetate 246 (1S,4S)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5- 410.418 411 429 — {[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}-5-aza-2- azoniabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane trifluoroacetate 247 10-{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 344.358 — 363 — thienyl]carbonyl}-10-aza-9- azoniatricyclo[4.2.1.1^(2,5)]decane trifluoroacetate 248 4-methyl-2-[(methyl{[5- 331.319 — 350 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 1H-imidazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 249 5-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 395.363 — 414 — 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-4-ium trifluoroacetate 250 4-[(cyclopropyl{[5- 385.411 386 404 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 1,3,5-trimethyl-1H-pyrazol-2- ium trifluoroacetate 251 4-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 416.466 417 435 — 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 2-(2-thienyl)-1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 252 2-methyl-3-[(methyl{[5- 381.379 382 400 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]imidazo[1, 2-a]pyridin-1-ium trifluoroacetate 253 2-[1-(methyl{[5- 348.368 349 367 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 254 N-methyl-N-[(4-methyl-1,2,5- 333.291 — 352 — oxadiazol-3-yl)methyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 255 3-[1-(methyl{[5- 332.303 — 351 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]isoxazol- 2-ium trifluoroacetate 256 3-[1-(methyl{[5- 407.418 — 426 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-2-ium trifluoroacetate 257 3-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 393.390 — 412 — 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-2-ium trifluoroacetate 258 4-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 410.440 411 429 — 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 2-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 259 2-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 410.440 411 429 — 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 300 5-cyclopropyl-3-[(methyl{[5- 359.329 — 378 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 1,2,4-oxadiazol-4-ium trifluoroacetate 301 5-[(cyclopropyl{[5- 360.379 361 379 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 302 3-[(methyl{[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 394.375 395 413 — 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)methyl]- 5-phenylisoxazol-2-ium trifluoroacetate 303 N-[1-(2-furyl)ethyl]-5- 317.289 — — 316 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 304 4-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 334.341 — 353 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 305 5-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 318.279 — 337 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium trifluoroacetate 306 5-[1-({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)-2- 318.276 319 337 — thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]isoxazol- 2-ium trifluoroacetate 307 N-[1-(2-thienyl)ethyl]-5- 333.353 — 352 — (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 308 2-methyl-4-[1-({[5- 348.368 349 367 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 1,3-thiazol-3-ium trifluoroacetate 309 3-methyl-5-[1-({[5- 332.306 — 351 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 4H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ium trifluoroacetate 310 2-[1-(methyl{[5- 342.342 343 361 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 311 4-[1-(methyl{[5- 342.342 343 361 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 312 3-[1-(methyl{[5- 342.342 343 361 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]pyridinium trifluoroacetate 313 tert-butyl 3-[1-({[5- 466.483 — 485 — (trifluoroacetyl)-2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)ethyl]- 1H-indole-1-carboxylate 314 N-[1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]- 343.327 344 362 — 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide

The Examples in Table 6 were made according to the process described in Example 148.

TABLE 6 5-(Trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2-sulfonylcarboxamides Molecular Molecular Molecular Ion Ion Example Name M. Wt. Ion (M + H)⁺ (M + H)⁺ + 18 (M + e⁻) 315 N-{[5-(dimethylamino)-1- 456.466 457 475 455 naphthyl]sulfonyl}-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 316 N-{[5-(acetylamino)-1,3,4- 428.389 — — 427 thiadiazol-2-yl]sulfonyl}-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 317 N-[(2-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-5- 381.327 — 400 380 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 318 [(6-ethoxy-1,3-benzothiazol-2- 464.464 — 483 463 onyl]-5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene- 2-carboxamide 319 N-[(2-phenylethyl)sulfonyl]-5- 391.390 392 410 390 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 320 N-[(4-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5- 411.808 — 430, 432 410, 412 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 321 N-{[2-(1- 441.451 — — 440 naphthyl)ethyl]sulfonyl}-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 322 N-[(5-methylpyridin-2- 378.351 — — 377 yl)sulfonyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 323 methyl 2-{[({[5-(trifluoroacetyl)- 435.400 436 454 434 2- thienyl]carbonyl}amino)sulfonyl]methyl}benzoate 324 N-(1-benzothien-3-ylsulfonyl)-5- 419.423 — 438 418 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 325 N-[(2-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-5- 377.363 378 396 — (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 326 N-[(4-phenoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]- 455.434 — 474 454 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 327 N-[(4,4-diphenylbutyl)sulfonyl]- 495.543 — 514 494 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 328 N-[(3,3-diphenylpropyl)sulfonyl]- 481.516 — 500 480 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 329 N-[(2-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5- 411.808 — 430 410 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 330 N-[(2,2-diphenylethyl)sulfonyl]- 467.489 — 486 466 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 331 N-[(biphenyl-4- 453.462 — 472 452 ylmethyl)sulfonyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 332 N-[(1,2-benzisoxazol-3- 418.373 419 437 417 ylmethyl)sulfonyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 333 N-({[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3- 494.920 495, 497 513, 515 493, 495 thiazol-2-yl]methyl}sulfonyl)-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 334 N-[(4-cyanobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5- 402.373 — 421 401 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 335 N-[(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)sulfonyl]- 378.351 379 397 377 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 336 N-[(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]- 446.253 — — 444, 446 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 337 N-[(2-cyclohexylethyl)sulfonyl]- 397.438 — 416 — 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 338 N-{[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]sulfonyl}- 389.374 — 408 388 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 339 N-[(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]- 446.253 — — 444, 446 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 340 5-(trifluoroacetyl)-N-{[2- 445.362 — 464 444 (trifluoromethyl)benzyl]sulfonyl}thiophene- 2-carboxamide 341 5-(trifluoroacetyl)-N-{[4- 447.334 — 466 446 (trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl}thiophene- 2-carboxamide 342 N-[(5-bromo-2-thienyl)sulfonyl]- 448.258 — 466, 468 — 5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 343 N-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)-5- 413.397 — 432 412 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 344 N-[(3-phenylpropyl)sulfonyl]-5- 405.417 — 424 — (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 345 N-[(3,4-dichlorophenyl)sulfonyl]- 432.226 — 450, 452 430, 432 5-(trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 346 N-({5-[(benzoylamino)methyl]-2- 502.513 503 — 501 thienyl}sulfonyl)-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 347 N-[(2,4- 423.389 424 442 422 dimethoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 348 N-(biphenyl-4-ylsulfonyl)-5- 439.435 440 458 — (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 349 N-[(2,5-dichloro-3- 438.252 — 456, 458 436, 438 thienyl)sulfonyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 350 N-{[3-(4- 451.443 452 470 450 methoxyphenoxy)propyl]sulfonyl}- 5-trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 351 N-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)-5- 413.397 414 432 412 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 352 N-[(3-chlorobenzyl)sulfonyl]-5- 411.808 — 430 410 (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide 353 N-(2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin- 421.373 — 440 420 6-ylsulfonyl)-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thiophene-2- carboxamide

The Example in Table 7 was made according to the process described in Example 149.

TABLE 7 5-(Trifluoroacetyl)-1,3-thiazoles-2-carboxamides Molecular Ion Example Name M. Wt. (M + H)⁺ 354 1-[2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-1- 326.299 327 ylcarbonyl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]-2,2, 2-trifluoroethanone

EXAMPLE 355 Comparison of the HDAC Inhibition Activity of Example 8 with Structurally Similar Compounds

The activities of the compounds shown in Table 8 were tested according to the assays described above, with the HDAC1 activity being tested in the assays described on pages 104 to 106 of WO 2006/061638. Only Example 8, which possesses a trifluoroacetate group as the zinc binding group (ZBG), showed selectivity for Class II HDAC (HDAC 4 and 6) over Class I (HDAC 1).

TABLE 8 Activities of representative HDACi against different HDAC isoforms HDAC 1 HDAC 4 HDAC 6 Structure Compound Name IC₅₀ (nM) IC₅₀ (nM) IC₅₀ (nM)

N-[(1R)-1- phenylethyl]-5- (trifluoroacetyl)thio- phene-2-carboxamide (Example 8) 710 95 350

N-hydroxy-N′-[(1R)- 1- phenytethyl]thiophene- 2,5-dicarboxamide 6 Not active up to 1 μM 50% inh. @ 1 nM

SAHA 27 Not active up to 10 μM  32

TSA 0.75 42% inh. @ 1000 nM    1.2

MS-275 110 Not active up to 10 μM Not active up to 10 μM 

1. A compound of formula I:

wherein: each of the (X═O) linked group and trifluoroacetyl group is independently substituted on any carbon ring atom; A is CH; D is CH; X is C; R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino and di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino; or R¹ together with —(CH₂)_(b)—N—(CR²R³)_(a)W forms a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl ring, a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, a phenyl ring, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, or a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by one or two C₁₋₄ alkyl groups; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from L-R⁴; each L is independently a direct bond, (CH₂)_(d) or C═O; R² and R³ are independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₂₋₆alkynyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; or R² and R³ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C₃₋₇cycloalkyl group, >C═O or >C═CH; W is halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₁₋₆alkoxy, S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; or a ring which is: C₃₋₅cycloalkyl; a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; a 6-13 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring; a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-15 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which alkyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from R⁶; each R⁴ is independently halogen; cyano; hydroxy; oxo; C₁₋₆alkyl; haloC₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkoxy; mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl; haloC₁₋₆alkoxy; C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; nitro; N(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CO(C₁₋₆alkyl); N(R^(a))CO₂(C₁₋₆alkyl); S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵; C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl; C₆₋₁₀aryl; C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl; C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl; a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; or a 7-10 membered unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which alkyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from cyano, oxo, hydroxy, halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms and C₆₋₁₀aryl, any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy and haloC₁₋₆alkyl; R⁵ is C₁₋₆alkyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or a 7-10 membered saturated, partially saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S; any of which alkyl or alkenyl groups or rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, N(R^(a))₂, —C₁₋₆alkylN(R^(a))₂, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl and C₆₋₁₀ aryloxy rings, the rings being optionally substituted by one, two or three groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and haloC₁₋₆alkyl; each R⁶ is independently halogen, cyano, oxo, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, mercaptoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkoxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; nitro; N(R^(a))₂; CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CON(R^(a))₂; N(R^(a))CO(C₁₋₆alkyl); N(R^(a))CO₂(C₁₋₆alkyl); S(O)_(r)(CH₂)_(c)R⁵, O(C₁₋₁₀alkyl)N(R^(a))COR⁷; or a ring which is: C₃₋₇cycloalkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryloxy, C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl, a 5 or 6 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, or a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S; any of which rings being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, C₁₋₆alkyl and C₁₋₆alkoxy; R⁷ is C₁₋₆alkoxy or C₁₋₆alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or a 7-10 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, the ring being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, oxo, C₁₋₆alkyl and C₁₋₆alkoxy; each R^(a) is independently hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl or C₆₋₁₀arylcarbonyl; a is zero, one, two, three, four, five or six; b is zero, one, two, three or four; c is zero, one, two, three or four; each d is independently one, two, three or four; and r is zero, one or two; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1 of formula IA:

wherein: the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on any carbon ring atom; and a, b, A, D, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined in claim 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 3. The compounds of claim 1 of formula IB:

wherein a, b, R¹, R², R³, W and X are as defined in claim 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 4. The compound of claim 1 of formula IF:

wherein: the trifluoroacetyl group is substituted on any carbon ring atom; R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, C₆₋₁₀arylC₁₋₄alkyl or C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; and a, A, D, X, R², R³ and W are as defined in claim 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 5. The compound of claim 1 of formula IG:

wherein: each of the (X═O) linked group and trifluoroacetyl group is independently substituted on any carbon ring atom; e is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Het is a 4 membered saturated heterocycle containing one N atom or a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated heterocycle containing one, two or three N atoms and zero or one O atom; the ring being optionally fused to a C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl ring, a 5, 6 or 7 membered saturated or partially saturated heterocyclic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, a phenyl ring, a 5 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, not more than one heteroatom of which is O or S, or a 6 membered heteroaromatic ring containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms; optionally substituted at a carbon ring atom by a 5 or 6 membered spiro ring containing zero, one or two heteroatoms independently selected from N, O or S which ring is optionally fused to a phenyl ring; or optionally bridged by one or two C₁₋₄alkyl groups; and A, D, L, X and R⁴ are as defined in claim 1; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or tautomer thereof.
 6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 